Estates & Other Probate

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 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.

1. Estate of Elizabeth Brumm
   23PR00083
   Other

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARNACES REQUIRED. Petition for Appointment of Public Administrator is DENIED without prejudice. Matter is continued to a Case Management Conference on April 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of case.

 

2. Estate of Stephen J. Brumm
   23PR00086
   Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARNACES REQUIRED. Matter is CONTINUED to a Case Management Conference on April 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of case.

 

3. Estate of Edward M. Graves
   23PR00236
   Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Statutory fees are miscalculated as $8,132.03; The correct amount is $7,754.69. The proposed order has been modified to reflect the correction.

 

4. Estate of Bruce L. Potterton
   23PR00358
   Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to April 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes  posted in the case file.

 

5. Estate of Kathy Kinion
   24PR00914
   Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

6. Estate of Leslie Anne Fox
   24PR01027
   Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

7. Estate of James Offutt Denham
   25PR00068
   Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

8. Estate of Silvia Maria Michalek
   25PR00246
   Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

9. Estate of Rita J. Shine
   25PR00258
   Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to March 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

 

10. Estate of Yvonne Jenkins
    25PR00410
    Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar. Statutory fees are miscalculated as $9,181.31; The correct amount is $11,700.00. The proposed order has been modified to reflect this correction.

 

11. Estate of Stanley Jonah
    25PR00486
    Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

12. Estate of Jan Pierce Logan
    25PR01131
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as the will waives bond. Petitioner is to file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of issuance of letters (Prob. Code section 8800(b)) and either a petition for an order for final distribution of the estate or a report of status of administration within the timeframe set out in Probate Code section 12200.

The matter is SET on the April 15, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate or final account and distribution. No appearances at the hearing will be required if the court determines that administration of the estate is timely proceeding, or good cause is shown why more time is required.

 

13, 14. Estate of Rickey Allen Daniels
                25PR01230
                Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

15. Estate of Jaime Logan Smith
    25PR01339
    Probate of Will and Administration WWA

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as the will waives bond. Petitioner is to file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of issuance of letters (Prob. Code section 8800(b)) and either a petition for an order for final distribution of the estate or a report of status of administration within the timeframe set out in Probate Code section 12200.

The matter is SET on the April 15, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate or final account and distribution. No appearances at the hearing will be required if the court determines that administration of the estate is timely proceeding, or good cause is shown why more time is required.

 

16. Matter of Trinity Mae Irwin
    25PR01377
    Other

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. 

 

17. Estate of Gary Peter Westre
    25PR01455
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is fixed at $400,000.00. Petitioner is to file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of issuance of letters (Prob. Code section 8800(b)) and either a petition for an order for final distribution of the estate or a report of status of administration within the timeframe set out in Probate Code section 12200.

The matter is SET on the April 15, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate or final account and distribution. No appearances at the hearing will be required if the court determines that administration of the estate is timely proceeding, or good cause is shown why more time is required.

 

18. Estate of Mark Allen Belew
    25PR01458
    Determine Succession to R/P

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

19. Estate of Cort H. Amelung
    25PR01522
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as all beneficiaries waive bond. Petitioner is to file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of issuance of letters (Prob. Code section 8800(b)) and either a petition for an order for final distribution of the estate or a report of status of administration within the timeframe set out in Probate Code section 12200.

The matter is SET on the April 15, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate or final account and distribution. No appearances at the hearing will be required if the court determines that administration of the estate is timely proceeding, or good cause is shown why more time is required.

 

20.  Estate of James Lowell Grant
         26PR00021
         Probate of Will and Administration WWA

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as both beneficiaries waive bond. Petitioner is to file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of issuance of letters (Prob. Code section 8800(b)) and either a petition for an order for final distribution of the estate or a report of status of administration within the timeframe set out in Probate Code section 12200.

The matter is SET on the April 15, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate or final account and distribution. No appearances at the hearing will be required if the court determines that administration of the estate is timely proceeding, or good cause is shown why more time is required.

Petitioner is to submit a new proposed order that includes that current attorney’s information.

 

21. Estate of Susan M. Weiss
    26PR00024
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as all heirs waive bond. Petitioner is to file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of issuance of letters (Prob. Code section 8800(b)) and either a petition for an order for final distribution of the estate or a report of status of administration within the timeframe set out in Probate Code section 12200.

The matter is SET on the April 15, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate or final account and distribution. No appearances at the hearing will be required if the court determines that administration of the estate is timely proceeding, or good cause is shown why more time is required.
 

***End of Tentative Rulings***