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 Salvador Lopez
   24PR00092
   Other

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

2,3. Estate of Delia Claire van der Plas
24PR00554
Waiver of Account and Report; Other

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Second Amended Petition for Final Distribution is APPROVED.   The Petition to Establish Estate’s Claim to Ownership of Property is APPROVED.

4. Estate of Richard Sheldon Lieberman
   24PR00801
   Waiver of Account and Report

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

5. Estate of Matthew Lee Holmlund
   25PR00049
   Account and Report

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

6. Estate of Candace D. Montoure
   25PR00316
   Account and Report

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

7. Estate of Kathie Mae January
   25PR01015
   Account and Report

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

8. Estate of Daniel E. Wolseth
   25PR01055
   Waiver of Account and Report

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

9. Estate of Frank Byron White
   25PR01258
   Account and Report

              Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Amended petition filed June 25, 2026, is APPROVED.  The objection of creditor Moore is overruled.  The Court finds no disputed factual issues that require resolution to make a determination on the pleadings.  The Court adopts as its reasoning those set forth in the reply filed by administrator on July 7, 2026.  In addition, the Court would observe that failure to determine heirship status now would delay any preliminary distribution and result in significant financial loss given the capital gains taxation issue. The Court will sign the proposed order lodged June 25, 2026, including all orders listed on pages four and five regarding a determination of the intestate heirs and preliminary distribution.  The Court finds that such preliminary distribution may be made without risk of loss to creditors or other interested parties.

10. Estate of Diane Alvarez
    26PR00333
    Spousal Property Petition

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Petitioner filed a Request for Dismissal on 7/6/26. This matter is DROPPED from calendar.

11. Estate of Charles Boyer Richards Cornelius
    26PR00400
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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.

12. Estate of Danny Rivera
    26PR00407
    Probate of Will and Administration WWA

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to July 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. As there is a competing Petition, 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 resolved, the parties shall each file statements of issues no later than seven (7) court days before the continued hearing date. Local Rule 6.2 F.3.

To help inform the discussion of the parties, the Court would raise the question of whether it is appropriate to appoint as a fiduciary of an estate someone who has recently engaged in a bankruptcy.  Considering the duties and responsibilities of the role, this would seem disqualifying.

13. Estate of Patricia Cowan
    26PR00452
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to August 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.

14. Estate of Barbara N. Goodman
    26PR00466
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court may, in its discretion, require the personal representative to furnish a bond (CRC 7.201(b), Probate Code §8571.) As the personal representative is not a resident of California, bond is fixed in the amount of $100,000. 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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.

15. Estate of Robert Joseph Rappa
    26PR00615
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is required as the sole heir 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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. Estate of Constance Cota
    26PR00630
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is required as the sole heir 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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.

17. Estate of Elvira Silvia Fiorentino
    26PR00631
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is required as the sole heir 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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 Yu Shang Wiebers
    26PR00634
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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.

19. Estate of Lorraine Wallace Bockmier
    26PR00652
    Determine Succession to Primary Residence

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. 

20. Estate of Michael James Emerson
    26PR00656
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court may, in its discretion, require the personal representative to furnish a bond (CRC 7.201(b), Probate Code §8571.) As the personal representative is not a resident of California, bond is fixed in the amount of $100,000. 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 September 9, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 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.

21. Estate of Alan Jay Tudisco
    26PR00658
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to August 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.

*End of Tentative Rulings*