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 Michael Ray Bessette
   23PR00018
   Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Any future Case Management Calendar dates are dropped from calendar.

 

2. Estate of Ashley Christin Walker Elmore
   23PR00206
   Other

DISCLOSURE:  The Court discloses that its former courtroom clerk, Avery Roux, left her employment with the court in May 2025 and became employed by the firm of Spaulding McCullough & Tansil as a law clerk.  While the Court makes this disclosure, it finds no basis on which to recuse.  If any party wishes to be heard, or to request more information on the disclosure, they should request to appear for that purpose.

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

3. Estate of John Jenkel
   24PR00087
   Status Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is SET on the Case Management Calendar on June 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate.

 

4. Estate of Simon Yohannes
   24PR00607
   Other

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.  If Petitioner can obtain a waiver of notice from the other person entitled to notice (who appears to live at the same address as petitioner), it should be filed and a request to appear made.  The Court would then be inclined to grant the petition. 

 

5. Estate of Gary Mark Anderson
   24PR00906
   Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Any future Case Management Calendar dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

6. Estate of Charlotte F. Reichert
   24PR01096
   Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file. The Court is in receipt of the Declaration filed 9/29/25 but finds that it is not an acceptable substitution for a completed Proof of Service. Petitioner is to file a proper Proof of Service for the Notice of Hearing. If Petitioner is able to file a proper Proof of service prior to the present hearing, they may request appearances at the hearing and avoid the continuance. The Court would then be inclined to grant the Petition.

 

7. Estate of Elizabeth Gail Daniels
   25PR00002
   Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling:  APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Any future Case Management Calendar dates are DROPPED from calendar.

 

8. Estate of Desmond N. Murphy
   25PR00304
   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 December 10, 2026, 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.

 

9. Estate of Joseph S. Wang
   25PR00882
   Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.  The Court notes that the Notice of Hearing filed 9/25/25 is missing a signature for the Proof of Service on page 2. If Petitioner can file a completed Proof of Service prior to the current hearing, they may request to appear at the hearing and avoid the continuance. The Court would then be inclined to grant the Petition.

 

10. Estate of Carol Ann Huffman
    25PR00945
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

 

11. Estate of Martin Edward Conroy
    25PR00960
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as all heirs have waived 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 December 10, 2026, 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 Robert Trenchard, Jr.
    25PR00967
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.  The Court presumes Una Trenchard (see case 25PR00970 below) is the predeceased spouse of Robert Trenchard, but there is no allegation in either case that expressly states a relationship between the two.  The Court also notes that item 7.b is marked, but that 7.b.1 or 2 is not.  If the sole asset was community owned real property, why not do a spousal property petition?

 

13. Estate of Una Trenchard
    25PR00970
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

 

14. Estate of Jeremy Loren Lyle
    25PR00972
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is fixed at $190,000.00. 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 December 10, 2026, 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.

 

15. Estate of Judith E. Gordon
    25PR00990
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Court has received and reviewed the declaration of counsel filed September 24, 2025.  The Court treats the declaration as a supplement to the petition.  CRC Rule 7.3(5).  However, such a supplement “…must be signed and verified by one of the persons who were required to sign and verify the pleading that is supplemented.”  CRC Rule 7.104(b)(1).  The Court does not find that the exception in that section applies as there is no basis to conclude the attorney has personal knowledge of the facts stated.  (Evidence Code section 702).  If counsel can obtain Petitioner’s signature on a supplement prior to the hearing, they should file it and request to appear for the purpose of presenting it to the Court.  The Court is then inclined to grant the petition.  Otherwise, this matter is CONTINUED to November 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12 to allow Petitioner time to cure the defect.

 

16. Estate of Victor Rosales
    25PR00995
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is not required as all heirs have waived 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 December 10, 2026, 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.

 

17. Estate of Carl Wayne Loggins
    SPR093146
    Status Update

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is SET on the Case Management Calendar on March 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate.

 

18. Estate of Frank Paratore
    SPR093291
    Waiver of Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

19. Estate of Alejandro Basilio Reyna
    SPR097902
    Other

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Petition is GRANTED.  Lucien Reyna is ordered to return to the Estate of Alejandro Basillio Reyna the sum of $70,296.98 within 10 days of service of notice of entry of an order, or as otherwise agreed to by the Administrator and Lucien Reyna in writing prior to that time.  If the money is not returned in full, the Administrator shall surcharge Lucien Reyna’s distributive share of the entire amount (or any partial amount remaining unreturned should a partial repayment be made and accepted).  Whether the Administrator decides to accept a partial payment and surcharge Lucien Reyna in an amount adjusted correspondingly, is entirely within her discretion.  Petitioner shall submit a revised proposed order consistent with this ruling.

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***