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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

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.

Tentative Rulings

December 19, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Estate of Robert E. Richardson
    24PR00278
    Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Paula Lee Peterson
    24PR00454
    Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Susan Richelle Gardner
    25PR00021
    Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Donald Angelo Tucker
    25PR00039
    Waiver of Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Stanley Modrak
    25PR00169
    Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Lynn Lipka
    25PR00314
    Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of John Francis Clement
    25PR00387
    Waiver of Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of David Michael Bolden
    25PR00823
    Probate of Will and Admin WWA

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

 

  1. Estate of Chris Carl Christensen
    25PR012223
    Determine Succession to R/P

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

  1. Estate of Martha Alicia Martinez Martinez
    25PR01233
    Spousal Property Petition

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. 

 

  1. Estate of Edward Martin Zentner
    25PR01256
    Determine Succession to R/P

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to February 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12 to allow Petitioner time to address the creditor’s claim filed on 12/8/25.

 

  1. Estate of Frank Byron White
    25PR01258
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is set in the amount of $3,025,000.00. 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 February 25, 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 hire an heir search firm to investigate the claims made by potential heirs of the decedent and determine the identity of any other heirs. If no additional heirs are found, apart from the Petitioner, the Petitioner may file a drop off ex parte to vacate the requirement to post a bond.

The hearing on the ex parte petition filed by Misty Moore was vacated by Court order on 12/16/25.  The Court ruled in part:

In light of the fact the Advance Healthcare Directive (AHCD) is invalid on its face, and this is the only basis on which Misty Moore had standing to address the disposition of the decedent’s remains, the hearing on her ex parte petition which was set for hearing on 12/19/25 by order of the Court dated 11/13/25, is vacated.  It does not appear any notice of that hearing was provided in any event.  The Court also notes that the AHCD, even if valid, did not entitle Misty Moore to notice of the petition for special administration or confer standing on her to participate in the petition for probate.  There is no other basis alleged by her for standing to be heard in this matter or contest the petition for probate.

Accordingly, the above tentative ruling addresses the only matter on calendar, the uncontested petition for probate.

 

  1. Estate of Dennis Ledbetter
    25PR01269
    Letters of Administration

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

If petitioner can file proof of publication prior to the hearing, he should do so and request to appear for the purpose of presenting it to the Court.  The Court would then be inclined, absent objection, to approve the petition.

 

  1. Estate of George David Guzman
    25PR01280
    Probate of Will

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to January 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

 

  1. Estate of Edward Kenneth Wall
    25PR01282
    Probate of Will and Admin WWA

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

 

  1. Estate of Virgilio Cruz Ranada, Jr.
    25PR01294
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is set in the amount of $158,000. 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 February 25, 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.

 

  1. Estate of John Roger Hagopian
    SPR81798
    Waiver of Account and Report

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

 

  1. Estate of John Clifton Ridge
    SPR095526
    Account and Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***

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