Conservatorships
If the tentative ruling does not require appearances, and is accepted, no appearance is necessary.
Any party who wishes to be heard in response or opposition to the Court’s tentative ruling MUST NOTIFY the Court’s Judicial Assistant by telephone at (707) 521-6893 and MUST NOTIFY all other parties of the intent to appear, and whether they will appear in person or by Zoom. Both notifications must be completed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court (business) day immediately before the day of the hearing.
Unless notification of an appearance has been given as provided above, the tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the court the day of the hearing at the beginning of the calendar, absent an objection from an interested party per Probate Code section 1043.
To Access the Probate Examiner Notes:
- Access the Portal
- Accept the Terms
- Choose Smart Search, insert your case number, and follow all instructions.
To Join Department 12 “Zoom” Online
- Navigate to website: https://sonomacourt-org.zoomgov.com/j/1603772262
- Enter Meeting ID: 160 377 2262
- And Password: 419097
To Join Department 12 “Zoom” By Phone:
- Call: +1 669-254-5252 US (San Jose) and enter the same meeting ID and password as listed above.
Guide for Participating in Court Proceedings via Zoom for Dept 12:
- After joining the meeting and checking in with the clerk, please mute your audio when not speaking. This helps keep background noise to a minimum.
- Be mindful of background noise when your microphone is not muted. Avoid activities that could create additional noise, such as shuffling papers.
- Position your camera properly if you choose to use a web camera. Be sure it is in a stable position and focused at eye level, if possible. Make sure everything visible in the frame is appropriate for an appearance in court.
- If a confidential session becomes necessary it is incumbent on you to ensure you are able to participate from a private location so that unauthorized people cannot overhear or see the proceedings.
- Chat is enabled for the sharing of documents among participants and the court and to allow attorneys to communicate individually with each other or their clients only. No chat messages should be sent privately to the court as it would amount to an unauthorized ex parte communication. Neither should chat messages be sent to all participants unless directed by the court.
- The recording function has been disabled. Remember, the prohibition against recording court proceedings, even remote ones, remains.
- Be patient. Check in will take more time and the experience from those who have tried this before is that proceedings are a little slower generally.
Tentative Rulings
Honorable Rene A. Chouteau
May 29, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
PLEASE NOTE:
ALL APPEARANCES FOR THE CONSERVATORSHIP CALENDAR WILL BE AT 1:30 P.M. IN DEPT 12, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM.
ANY PARTY WHO HAS REQUESTED AN APPEARNACE SHOULD APPEAR AT 1:30 P.M., IN DEPT 12, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM.
- Conservatorship of Gail Ellen Urge
24PR00673
Waiver of Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is CONTINUED to July 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Counsel for conservatee is directed to meet with their client and discuss conservatee’s concerns reflected in the Report of the Court Investigator, filed on May 20, 2026, and submit a report to the court at least ten days prior to the next hearing.
The request to waive an accounting for the period of October 24, 2024 through October 31, 2025, is APPROVED.
The matter is SET on the January 13, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12, for status of account. If the Second Account, or Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting, is filed at least ten days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.
The conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00, within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship and send payment to the Probate Clerk’s office.
- 3 Conservatorship of Lola Ann Felix
24PR00922
Waiver of Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The conservatorship shall continue without modification.
The request to waive an accounting for the period of February 7, 2025 through February 7, 2026, is APPROVED.
The matter is SET on the April 6, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12, for status of account. If the Second Account, or Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting, is filed at least ten days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.
The conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00, within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship and send payment to the Probate Clerk’s office.
- Conservatorship of Faramarz Kiani
26PR00166
Authorize Sale of Conservatee’s Residence
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is CONTINUED to June 12, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, at the request of the court investigator.
- Conservatorship of Ernest Duck
26PR00390
Appointment of Conservator
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. As the proposed conservatee objects to the conservatorship, this matter is CONTINUED to July 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Pursuant to local rule 6.2 (F)(2), the parties are directed to meet and confer and make a reasonable and good faith attempt to informally resolve the controversy at a face-to-face conference (which is deemed to include video platforms such as Zoom), if possible, otherwise by telephone conference. If the matter has not been resolved, the parties shall each file statements of issues no later than seven (7) court days before the continued hearing date pursuant to Local Rule 6.2 (F)(3).
- Conservatorship of Jeffrey Pottorff
26PR00625
Appointment of Temporary Conservator
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Having received information from the Office of the Court Investigator that the petitioner would like to withdraw the request for temporary conservatorship, the Petition for Temporary Conservator is DENIED.
Petitioner is directed to file an amended Confidential Contact for Use by Court Investigator (Local Form PR-12) with the correct telephone number for the petitioner.
The matter remains SET on July 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, for the Petition for Appointment of Conservator.
- Conservatorship of Susana Shreve
SPR095624
Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The matter is CONTINUED to July 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12, to be heard concurrently with the Petition for Appointment of Successor Conservator, filed on April 30, 2026, and with related case SPR096096, the Susana Shreve Revocable Trust dated May 18, 2015.
- Conservatorship of Judith Lynn O’Quest Carter
SPR097148
Account & Report
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The conservatorship shall continue without modification.
Absent objection, despite irregularities, the Second Account and Report of Conservator is APPROVED.
Conservators request for reimbursement of costs advanced is approved in the amount prayed.
Attorney fees and request for reimbursement of costs advanced are approved in the amounts prayed.
Bond is increased to $217,100.00.
The matter is SET on the March 9, 2028, case management conference calendar, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12, for status of account. If the Third Account is filed at least ten days prior to the hearing, no appearances shall be required.
The conservator is directed to pay the court investigator assessment of $600.00, within 30 days, payable to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Please include the case number and name of the conservatorship and send payment to the Probate Clerk’s office.
***End of Tentative Rulings***