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ATTENTION JURORS SUMMONED THE WEEK OF 6/9/25 ONLY

Due to a printing error, you will receive a second summons, please disregard the first summons. If you have any questions, please contact the jury office at (707) 521-6640. 

Notice of court closure Juneteenth Day:

The Superior Court of Sonoma County will be closed Thursday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth Day.

Probate Case Management Conference Calendar

If the tentative ruling is accepted, no appearance is necessary unless otherwise indicated. You must notify the probate clerk at (707) 521-6893 if you wish to be heard in response to the tentative ruling. You must inform the clerk concerning your appearance choice: Zoom or in person. Any interested party who wishes to be heard in opposition to a petition must notify all other parties of the intent to appear. Both notifications must be completed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day immediately preceding the day of the hearing.

Unless notification to the probate clerk has been given as provided above, the tentative rulings shall become the rulings of the court at 3:15 p.m. on the day of the hearing.  

To Join Department 12 "Zoom" Online

To Join Department 12 "Zoom" by Phone

Call 1-669-254-5252 (San Jose) and enter same meeting ID and password as listed above.

Guide for participating in court proceedings via Zoom for Department 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

Honorable Jennifer V. Dollard 
June 12, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. 

  1. Estate of Glenna L. Elliott
    23PR00166
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Despite the fact the order appointing executor was filed March 1, 2024, letters were not issued until a year later on March 5, 2025.  No Inventory and Appraisal has yet been filed.  In light of the delay in obtaining letters, this matter is CONTINUED to November 13, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of Inventory and Appraisal, as well as petition for final distribution and account, or on waiver of account.  Executor may refer to local form PR-19 for reference to the information required for such a petition.  If a petition for final distribution has been filed at least seven (7) days prior to the case management conference hearing, the hearing will be vacated and no appearances required.  If a petition cannot be filed before the next hearing, Petitioner is ordered to file a status update at least seven (7) days before the hearing.

 

  1. Estate of Greg Demartini
    23PR00243
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  As the Inventory and Appraisal was just filed in June 2025, the Court presumes more time is needed to complete estate administration.  This matter is CONTINUED to September 11, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate administration.  If a petition for final distribution and account, or on waiver of account, has been filed at least seven (7) days before the case management conference hearing, no appearance will be required.  If a petition cannot be filed before the next hearing, Administrator is ordered to file a status update at least seven (7) days before the hearing.

 

  1. Estate of Pauline Rose McCabe
    23PR00414
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  As the Final Inventory and Appraisal was just filed in June 2025, the Court presumes more time is needed to complete estate administration.  This matter is CONTINUED to November 13, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of estate administration.  If a petition for final distribution and account, or on waiver of account, has been filed at least seven (7) days before the case management conference hearing, no appearance will be required.  If a petition cannot be filed before the next hearing, Administrator is ordered to file a status update at least seven (7) days before the hearing.

 

  1. Matter of Ben Edward McCutchan, Barbara Louise McCutchan Trust
    24PR00320
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Court has reviewed the statement of issues from the Trustee filed June 5, 2025.  The Court is also in receipt of the joint statement of issues filed June 6, 2025.  While the joint statement is unsigned, the Court issues the following tentative ruling presuming that the joint statement does accurately represent the views of all those listed in the signature blocks.  If that is not the case, of course, any party may request to appear and be heard.

The Court initially notes that it granted the request to appoint Andrea Wolcott as Special Administrator in the estate case (24PR00214).  The authority of the Special Administrator is as stated in Attachment 3d(2), attached to the Order for Probate, form DE-140, both prepared by the Court:

Special Administrator is granted all powers listed in Probate Code section 8544, except that the power to commence and maintain or defend suits and other legal proceedings (section 8544(a)(3)), shall exclude the Special Administrator engaging in the litigation related to this case, and the related cases of 24PR00320 and 25PR00562, in her capacity as Special Administration as a representative of the estate.  Commencing, maintaining and defending suits or other legal proceedings in connection with the marshalling, preservation and administration of assets of the estate, is authorized. The stay in this case is lifted solely for the purpose of allowing the Special Administrator to exercise the powers listed in Probate Code section 8544 and is not a general lifting of the stay for all purposes of litigation in this case. The letters of special administration shall expire after six months or further order of the Court, whichever is sooner.  The Special Administrator may apply for an extension of letters of special administration as needed.

The Court notes the limitation on the Special Administrator’s powers under Probate Code section 8544(a)(3) is consistent with the parties’ stipulation that Edward McCutchan will continue the accounting action (25PR00562) filed by decedent Barbara McCutchan on behalf of her estate as one of her successors-in-interest as defined in Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) section 377.11, and as allowed by CCP section 377.31.  In light of this stipulation, no further motion is required and it is so ORDERED.

The Court also ORDERS that the following actions are related pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 3.300: 24PR00320, 25PR00562, and 24PR00214. 

As the parties are in agreement that discovery is desirable prior to a trial setting date, this hearing is CONTINUED to December 4, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12.  All three cases shall be continued to that date.  At that time, the Court will set the trust case (24PR00320) for a court trial, the right to a jury trial on the elder abuse claim having been waived.  The Court will select a court date far enough in the future to allow the parties to engage in voluntary mediation prior to the need to begin trial preparation.  The Court will not sever any issue for trial.  The accounting case (25PR00562) will trail the matter set for trial, though it is not stayed.  That is, discovery, law and motion, etc., in the accounting action may proceed.  The estate case (24PR00214) will continue to be stayed, except as stated above, and will also trail the matter set for trial.

As required by the local rules, the parties are ordered to continue their meet and confer efforts and to file statements of issues, or a joint statement of issues, at least seven (7) days prior to the next case management conference hearing date.

The Court wishes to thank the parties for the comprehensive and helpful statements of issues provided.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Lola Ann Felix
    24PR00922
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The documents submitted have been received, reviewed and are satisfactory.  This matter is CONTINUED to April 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 12 for the annual review and report of the Court Investigator.

 

  1. Matter of Spencer Mathis
    25PR00215
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. This matter is DROPPED from calendar in light of the filing of the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Order and Funds for Deposit into Blocked Account on May 29, 2025.

 

  1. Estate of Ruth Schaefer
    SPR8393
    Order to Show Cause Re: Dismissal

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCE REQUIRED for status of filing of inventory and appraisal and petition for final distribution and account, and hearing on the Order to Show Cause re: Dismissal issued on November 14, 2024, and continued from the initial hearing held on December 11, 2024.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Patricia James
    SPR80580
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Nothing has been filed with the court indicating a desired change in the status quo.  Consistent with the Court’s indication in its ruling of May 17, 2024, this matter is DROPPED from calendar. 

 

  1. Estate of Salomon A. Franco
    SPR83052
    Order to Show Cause Re: Dismissal

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is CONTINUED to a Case Management Conference on September 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of final distribution and account.

 

  1. Estate of Gary Archer
    SPR83907
    Order to Show Cause Re: Dismissal

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCE REQUIRED for status of final distribution and account.  The Court notes it is unclear from the minutes of the prior hearing held on December 11, 2024, whether the Order to Show Cause re: Dismissal (OSC) was continued or vacated.  In light of this, the Court presumes the OSC was vacated.

 

  1. Estate of Marvin Massey
    SPR84049
    Order to Show Cause Re: Dismissal

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Court notes it is unclear from the minutes of the prior hearing held on December 11, 2024, whether the Order to Show Cause re: Dismissal (OSC) was continued or vacated.  In light of this, the Court presumes the OSC was vacated.  Based on the information provided in the Status Statement filed on May 30, 2025, this matter is CONTINUED to October 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of Inventory and Appraisal and final distribution and account. 

 

  1. Conservatorship of John Fletcher
    SPR092848
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Irma Ann Sisco
    SPR094335
    Review

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Matter is DROPPED from calendar in light of the hearing on the Third and Final Account and Report of Conservator set for August 1, 2025.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Maria Dolores Rodriguez
    SPR096077
    Review

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Based on the information provided in the Status Report filed June 9, 2025, this matter is CONTINUED to October 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of second account and report.    If a petition for approval of the second account and report is filed at least seven (7) days before the case management conference hearing, no appearance will be required.  If a petition cannot be filed before the next hearing, conservator is ordered to file a status update at least seven (7) days before the hearing.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Shirley Virginia Turner
    SPR096389
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for status of second account and report of Conservator.

 

  1. Estate of Mitra Khazal
    SPR096833
    Order to Show Cause

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. In light of the information in the Response to Order to Show Cause filed on June 5, 2025, this matter is CONTINUED to the probate Case Management Conference calendar on December 11, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 12 for status of final distribution and account, or on waiver of account. The Order to Show Cause issued on April 17, 2025, is vacated.

 

  1. Estate of Pedro Tamayo
    SPR097270
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for status of efforts to confirm identity of heirs as well as their valid addresses, and status of final distribution and account.

***End of Tentative Rulings***

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