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

November 13, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Estate of Virginia Ann Crawford

26PR00150

Account and Report

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

  1. Estate of William T. Deely

26PR00220

Waiver of Account and Report

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

  1. Estate of Mark Freeman

26PR00516

Other

              Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  As no statements of issues have been timely filed, the status of this matter is unclear.  Matter is CONTINUED to December 11, 2027 at 9:30 a.m. in Dept. 63.  The parties are again ordered to file statements of issues as previously ordered by the Court and in accordance with local rules.

  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 Marilyn Jewel Sechser

26PR00837

Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Bond is required in the amount of $250,000. 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Joseph Dante Panfiglio, Sr.

26PR00862

Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  A Dismissal was filed November 9, 2026. Matter is DROPPED from calendar.

  1. Estate of William Martin Kainu

26PR01051

              Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to December 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.  The declaration filed 10/27/26 does not clear all the notes, particularly the issue with publication.  The Court will also not authorize the use of a blocked account in lieu of a bond for an out of state personal representative.  The Court also notes the proposed deposit amount far exceeds the FDIC insurance limit.

  1. Estate of Mary Kathleen Christman

26PR01146

Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Dirk Chandler Stanley

26PR01153

Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is required 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Balbir Singh Parmar

26PR01154

Probate of Will

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to December 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.  In particular, the original will has not been lodged.  Also, while the Court is in receipt of three waivers of notice, it can only determine the identity of the person who executed one of them, Kalwinder Singh.  The other two waivers include signatures that are not legible and no corresponding typed name of the person executing the waiver.

  1. Estate of Marlene Berta Fredson

26PR01169

Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Diane Mary Blommer

26PR01179

Probate of Will and Administration WWA

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Elizabeth J. Bardella

26PR01188

Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Frederick Minor Wetterau

26PR01189

Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. No bond is 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 January 27, 2028, 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 Rosie Hyatt

26PR01190

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 January 27, 2028, 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 John Podboy

26PR01211

Letters of Administration

              Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to December 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 63.  Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes.

  1. Estate of Jan Pierce Young

SPR096894

Other

              Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Without any input from the creditor, it is hard for the Court to evaluate issues such as possible tolling of the limitation period of Code of Civil Procedure section 366.2, or any sort of lack of notice to creditors.  Based on the only pleadings before the Court, the petition is APPROVED.  The Court will sign the proposed order lodged September 30, 2026.

*End of Tentative Rulings*