Skip to main content.

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 23 “Zoom” Online

To Join Department 23 “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 23:

  • 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

Hon. Jennifer V. Dollard
April 26, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.

  1. Estate of Katherine Porter Clark
    24PR00165
    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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Marlene J. Vernon
    24PR00168
    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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Russell Lee Browning
    24PR00206
    Probate of Will & Admin WWA

            Tentative Ruling: APPROVED.  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  No bond is required as all beneficiaries 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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Carolyn Claire Sassenrath
    24PR00207
    Probate of Will

            Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is CONTINUED to May 31, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 23. Please refer to the Probate Examiner Notes posted in the case file.

  1. Estate of Wenda Jane Coffey
    24PR00230
    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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Pamela Jean Hendrix
    24PR00234
    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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Michael Allumbaugh
    24PR00240
    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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Dennis Charles Casad
    24PR00256
    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 August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Kenneth Wade Rowell
    SPR096387
    Waiver of Account & Report

            Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Order has been revised to indicate that the T. Rowe Price Brokerage Account ending 0281 is to be distributed to Anselma Patricio Vargas, and the T. Rowe Price Money Market Account ending 8201-3 is to be distributed to Betty Louise Rowell, pursuant to Decedent’s Will.

  1. Estate of Lillian Maria Fraser
    SPR096850
    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 $50,000.00. If the Petitioner recovers additional assets, they are to file a drop off ex parte within seven days of the recovery of the assets to allow the Court to re-evaluate the bond amount.

The matter is SET on the August 14, 2025, probate case management conference calendar at 3:00 p.m. in Department 23 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 Michael George Duarte Sylvia
    SPR097419
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

  1. Estate of Anna Aviles
    SPR097522
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

  1. Estate of Paul Israel
    SPR097592
    Waiver of Account & Report

            Tentative Ruling: APPROVED.  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  However, counsel is directed to submit a revised Order consistent with the Probate Examiner notes uploaded in the case on 4/5/24. Specifically, the proposed Order should indicate that the property in the estate is to be distributed to the trustee of the trust, pursuant to Decedent’s Will and Codicil. 

   

  1. Estate of Gregory Leon Zall
    SPR097630
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is CONTINUED to May 17, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 23, pursuant to the Notice of Stipulated Continuance filed on April 22, 2024.

  1. Estate of Nita Seehuber
    SPR097652
    Account & Report

Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Any future Case Management Conference dates are DROPPED from calendar. The Order has been revised to reflect the amount of $2,268.67 as reimbursement to counsel for costs advanced.

  1. Estate of Catherine Marie Geernaert
    SPR097670
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

The proposed order incorrectly names Jennifer Dillard and Joshua Dillard in line 9 of the prayer as recipients of any other property not now known or discovered.  Petitioner is to submit a revised proposed order with the correct names of the beneficiaries.

  1. Estate of Marilyn Eileen Mazza
    SPR097864
    Waiver of Account & Report

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

  1. Estate of Judith Kathryn Stadler
    SPR097921
    Account & Report

            Tentative Ruling: APPROVED. NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Any future Case Management Conference 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?