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 63 “Zoom” Online

To Join Department 63 “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 63:

  • 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

October 16, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Estate of Bonnie Jean Rosen
    24PR00171
    Account & Report

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

  1. Estate of Betty Jean James
    24PR00873
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

  1. Estate of Jerry D. Garner
    25PR00078
    Waiver of Account & Report

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

  1. Estate of Eleanor Doros Guillaume
    25PR00644
    Waiver of Account & Report

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. On its own motion, and in light of the stipulation of the parties filed on 10/12/26, the hearing on the request for extraordinary compensation is advanced from November 20, 2026 to the present hearing.  The petition is APPROVED.  The petition for final distribution on waiver of account is APPROVED, except that the final amounts distributed must incorporate payment of the extraordinary fees.  Petitioner is directed to submit a revised order after hearing consistent with this ruling.  All future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.

  1. Estate of Ron R. Hindley
    25PR00734
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  On June 27, 2025, Reginald Hindley filed a petition to probate the April 2020 will of decedent.  On July 31, 2025, respondent Don Graham filed an objection to the petition.  On August 29, 2025, the Court set the petition for trial to commence in May 2026.  Pursuant to a later filed stipulation of the parties the trial date was continued to the presently set date of October 30, 2026.  Since then, on July 8, 2026, Don Graham filed his own petition to probate an October 2024 will of the decedent.  On August 28, 2026, Reginald Hindley filed an objection to the petition to probate the October 2024 will noting it was revoked and replaced by a November 2024 will, and contending that both the October and November 2024 wills were invalid in any event.  The hearing on the petition to probate the October 2024 will was continued to the present hearing date and the parties ordered to meet and confer and file statements of issues pursuant to the local rules.  No statements of issues have been filed.  The Court also notes the existence of related case 26PR00642, which is also on calendar 10/16/26, and again in November 2026.  The trust petition set 10/16/26 is presently unopposed and, as such, the Court’s tentative ruling is to grant the petition.

The Court questions whether the petitions in this case are rendered moot by that ruling, whether the trial set 10/30/26 should go forward, and whether any party proposes to seek to probate the alleged November 2024 will, as well as discussion of the results of the meet and confer efforts of the parties.

  1. Estate of Dennis Ledbetter
    25PR01269
    Waiver of Account & Report

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.  Petitioner is to submit a new proposed order that lists the assets to be distributed.

  1. Estate of Clella Marie Gray
    26PR00132
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

  1. Estate of Vincent Troy Helper
    26PR00271
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is fixed at $526,314.00. 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 16, 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.

  1. Estate of Freda Davis
    26PR00571
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The petition for probate filed by Terry Davis on May 7, 2026 is DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to Local Rule 6.2.C.2.c. 

  1. Estate of Luis Fernando Mederios
    26PR00680
    Spousal Property Petition

              Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  It is not clear to this Court that jurisdiction over estate property or the out-of-state beneficiary have been established.  It is not clear to this Court that a spousal property petition is a proper legal vehicle for adjudication of the issue presented.

  1. Estate of Bentura O. Andrade
    26PR00739
    Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to November 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.  The Court still needs a certified order admitting the will to probate in Florida.

  1. Estate of Jack Henry Witt
    26PR00874
    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 December 16, 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.

  1. Estate of Juan Carlos De Leon Mazariegos
    26PR00895
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to November 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.

  1. Estate of Melissa Ann Evans
    26PR01055
    Determine Succession to Primary Residence

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

  1. Estate of Jean Marie Claessen
    26PR01056
    Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to November 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.

  1. Estate of Dorie Ammons
    26PR01072
    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 December 16, 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.

  1. Estate of Gertrude Martha Tejano
    26PR01073
    Probate of Will WWA

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is set in the amount of $610,074.08 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 16, 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.

  1. Estate of Fan-Tseng
    SPR097549
    Waiver of Account & Report

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.   Petitioner is to submit a revised proposed order that includes a complete omnibus clause in part 4 of the Order that distinguishes distributions of any later discovered separate and community property.

*End of Tentative Rulings*