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.
Tentative Rulings
January 16, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
- Estate of Matthew Reed Lindsay
24PR00016
Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.
- Estate of Larry A. Henderson
24PR00606
Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED.
- Estate of Carolyn Puryear
25PR00111
Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.
- Estate of John Guynn Deaton
25PR00337
Waiver of Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.
- Estate of Donald Kent Adams
25PR00583
Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.
- Estate of Cleo Dankworth
25PR01226
Probate of Will
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 $1,484,000. 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 March 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.
- Estate of Max A. Mickelsen
25PR01309
Spousal Property Petition
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to March 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.
- Estate of Maria Lourdes Hill
25PR01313
Probate of Will
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to February 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes 1, 2, 3, and 4 posted in the case file.
Petitioner requests appointment as successor executor but has not filed any proof of a current court appointed executor. Petitioner is directed to file a copy of the court order appointing the current executor (Judicial Council form DE-140) or else a copy of court issued Letters for the current executor.
The Court does not obtain the original will for the Petitioner.
The declaration filed 1/12/26 indicates the decedent resided in Kelseyville, California but does not include the county as required by 3.c. The Court takes judicial notice on its own motion that Kelseyville is not located in Sonoma County.
The proof of service indicates service of a petition for probate that has been filed in Lake County and is invalid for this proceeding on its face as it does not demonstrate service of this petition for probate pending in Sonoma County.
Petitioner is also directed to comply with California Rules of Court, Rule 1.201 in all future filings (“If an individual's social security number is required in a pleading or other paper filed in the public file, only the last four digits of that number may be used.”; and “If financial account numbers are required in a pleading or other paper filed in the public file, only the last four digits of these numbers may be used.”). The attachments to the petition are in violation of this rule.
Code compliant notice of the future hearing date in this matter must be completed and proof of service filed.
Any supplemental filing responsive to this ruling must be filed and served at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
- Estate of Sylvia Seventy
25PR01314
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 $100,000. 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 March 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.
- Estate of Joseph Triola
25PR01315
Probate of Will
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to March 6, 2026, 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 Petition for Probate does not comply with Local Rule 6.3(c); If Petitioner is able to file a supplement that complies with this local rule prior to the hearing, they may request appearances at the hearing for the purpose of presenting it to the Court. If the Court is satisfied with the supplement, it is inclined to grant the Petition.
- Estate of Robert Blair
25PR01316
Letters of Administration
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to March 6, 2026, 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 Proof of Publication filed 1/13/26 does not include a request for Authorization to Administer the Estate Under the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA). Matter is continued to allow Petitioner time to complete publication that includes a request for IAEA authority.
- Estate of Roberta Frances Scanlon
25PR01317
Probate of Will
Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to March 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file. The Court notes that once the petition is approved it will require a nominal bond of $50,000 in light of the non-resident co-executor. See CRC 7.201(b), Probate Code §8571.
- Estate of Shirleen Ruth Adams
25PR01318
Letters of Administration
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is waved as the sole heir has 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 March 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.
- Estate of Richard Craig Lybeck
25PR01320
Letters of Administration
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is waved 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 March 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.
- Estate of John M. Dempcy
25PR01373
Probate of Will
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 $200,000. 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 March 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.
- Estate of Salomon A. Franco
SPR83052
Waiver of Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.
- Estate of Tina Marie Havelka
SPR89327
Waiver of Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.
- Estate of Robert Fredericks
SPR097496
Account and Report
Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. Any future court dates are DROPPED from calendar.
***End of Tentative Rulings***