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 Carolyn Jane Allen
   23PR00153
   Waiver of Account and Report

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

 

2. Estate of Gary Baumoel
   24PR00155
   Waiver of Account and Report

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

 

3. Estate of Gloria Janet Silva
   24PR00324
   Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

4. Estate of David Schiebel
   24PR01053
   Account and Report

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

 

5. Estate of Harold Muir Newman
   25PR00123
   Account and Report

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

 

6. Estate of James Scott Hales
   25PR00153
   Waiver of Account & Report

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

 

7. Estate of Cynthia Jones
   25PR00250
   Account and Report

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

 

8. Estate of Carolyn Anne Irwin
   25PR00478
   Letters of Special Administration

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is CONTINUED to a previously calendared hearing on January 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12 for status of case.

 

9. Estate of Mary DeVee
   25PR00676
   Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is fixed in the amount of $509,000.00. 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 January 21, 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.

 

10. Estate of Esther Alvidrez Garcia
    25PR00718
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter was continued from 10/24/25 when the Court denied the Petition for Probate filed by Lydia Ball and Lorenzo Aguilera. As there have been no new filings in the case, this matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

11. Estate of Brian Thomas Mitchell
    25PR00881
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is required as 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 January 21, 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.

 

12. Estate of Darin Ellis Kizer
    25PR00923
    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 $50,000.00. 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 January 21, 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. Estate of Humberto Luis Castro Miranda
    25PR00929
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: At the October 3, 2025, hearing, Jennifer Castro Rivera was ordered to file and serve any objections to the Petition by October 31, 2025. As no objections were filed by October 31, 2025, any objections by Jennifer Castro Rivera are deemed waived.

The Petition for Letters of Administration filed by Jacqueline D. Castro is APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is set in the amount of $757,100.00. 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 January 21, 2027, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 pm. 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.

 

14. Evangeline J. Leash
    25PR01002
    Spousal Property Petition  

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  DENIED.  If appearances are requested, the Court invites counsel to bring legal authority addressing the below point. As one of the joint tenants has passed the transfer has occurred. 

 

15. Estate of Mary A. Hallock
    25PR01040
    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 $50,000.00. 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 January 21, 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. Estate of Margaret M. Lewis
    25PR01083
    Determine Succession to R/P

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED, NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

17. Matter of Anne Julia Etheridge
    25PR01094
    Other

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

18. Estate of Byron Melberg
    25PR01118
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is required as 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 January 21, 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.

 

19. Estate of Jean Ann Sachs
    25PR01127
    Probate of Will and Administration WWA

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to December 12, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

 

20. Matter of Prasong Khammoungkhoune
    25PR01251
    Establish Fact of Death

    Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED.  GRANTED.

 

21. Estate of Philip John Sleeper
    SPR-093236
    Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to December 12, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

If petitioner is able to file an amended proposed order prior to the hearing that includes the required APN and legal description of the real property distributed, she may file it and request to appear at the hearing for the purpose of presenting it to the Court and avoiding the continuance.  Absent objection, the Court would then be inclined to approve the petition. 

 

22. Estate of Archie C. Schumann
    SPR095845
    Account and Report  

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED, NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***