Skip to main content.

NOTICE:

 The clerk’s offices will be closed for business on Friday, December 12th, 2025 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. eFiling will remain available during these hours. Thank you.

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 5, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Estate of Linda Sue Luppi
    24PR00840
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Ronald Allen Whittsitt
    24PR00843
    Sale of Property

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for confirmation of sale of real property.

 

  1. Estate of Fe Alvarez
    24PR00854
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Ruben Louis Sala
    24PR00969
    Other Hearing

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

 

  1. Estate of Robert John Paniagua
    24PR01003
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Phyllis Kay Manning
    25PR00248
    Account & Report

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

Part 4(1) of the proposed order has been modified to reflect distribution to June Chace as trustee of the decedent’s trust.

 

  1. Estate of David Lee Herrick
    25PR00356
    Account & Report

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

 

  1. Estate of Herbert Herman Weiss
    25PR00414
    Other

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

  1. Estate of Philip Martin Essig
    25PR00868
    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 February 11, 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 Jeanne Celidor
    25PR00871
    Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. This matter has been continued twice to allow further time for Petitioner to address the deficiencies in the petition listed in the probate examiner’s notes posted on September 12, 2025, October 10, 2025, and November 14, 2025. The Court grants one further CONTINUANCE to January 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Dept. 12 to allow time to correct the defects listed in the most recent probate examiner notes. If the deficiencies have not been addressed prior to the hearing date the petition will be DISMISSED without prejudice in accordance with Local Rule 6.2.C.2.c.

 

  1. The Durable General Power of Attorney of William Chipman
    25PR00934
    Other Hearing

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Petition is GRANTED in that the Court instructs Petitioner, Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Trust Fund, to follow the instructions of the attorney in fact, Monty Chipman, in connection with payment of the pension and may disregard any contrary instructions from William Chipman. The stay on payments is lifted upon Monty Chipman sending instructions for payment.  The Court notes it did not receive any request for revocation of the Durable Power of Attorney (POA).  Should William Chipman wish to revoke the POA in the future with respect to the pension payments, he must file a petition with this court under the conditions previously outlined in the Court’s prior ruling (accompanied by a capacity declaration on the Judicial Council Form) and give notice of the hearing to the Pension Trust Fund.

 

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

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The petition is DENIED without prejudice.  There have been no further filings addressing the probate examiner’s notes.  In particular, the requirements to appoint an administrator with IAEA powers have not been met and the petitioner has not amended her petition to withdraw the request for these powers.

 

  1. Estate of Larry W. Shulkin
    25PR01031
    Probate of Will & Admin WWA

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is set in the amount of $152,000.00. 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 11, 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 Francis Gibson
    25PR01079
    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.

 

  1. Estate of Josephine Randolph
    25PR01133
    Determine Succession to R/P

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

  1. Estate of Patricia Ellen Higgins
    25PR01170
    Determine Succession to R/P

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

  1. Estate of Mary Anne Riuta Ziegler
    25PR01204
    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 February 11, 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 Jeffrey Abela
    25PR01217
    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 February 11, 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 Kin Rory Sanford
    25PR01220
    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.

 

  1. Estate of Frank P. Doyle
    SPR18578
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.

 

  1. Estate of Richard Joseph Sousa
    SPR097326
    Waiver of Account & Report

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. The Court has reviewed the Amended Petition filed 11/26/25 and notes that the proposed distribution does not comply with Probate Code section 6402 as Part 8 of the prayer requests distribution of the entire estate to decedent’s mother Jacquelyn Sousa but does not address any distribution to decedent’s father, William Sousa. The Court also notes that there is no Proof of Service for the Notice of Hearing.

Petitioner should also submit a revised proposed order that includes a breakdown of the distribution of assets and identifies the parties that are receiving the assets.

 

  1. Estate of Anna Mae Rucker
    SPR097346
    Account & Report

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

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***

Was this helpful?

Yes No
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Was this helpful?