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

August 6, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. 

  1. Estate of Sarah Louise Levy
    24PR00589
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling:  NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter is CONTINUED to October 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 63 for status of accounting. 

There is presently no active petition pending before the Court.  The Court’s judgment filed June 24, 2026, is now stayed as a result of a notice of appeal filed July 28, 2026.  To preserve the status quo pending appeal, the Court will likely order the special administrator to deposit any cash assets marshalled with the county treasurer, after her accounting is submitted and approved, discharge her, and leave it to the parties to complete probate at some future time in order to obtain an order of distribution and claim the funds on deposit.  Should a remittitur issue that directs further proceedings in this case, the funds on deposit could then be administered in this matter after further proceedings.  The Court is aware there are illiquid assets, but there is no basis to administer them in the absence of a pending petition, and such new expanded proceedings are now inappropriate in light of the appeal.

The Court has reviewed the only statements of issues filed by petitioner Michelle Levy and the Special Administrator but is not inclined to order mediation ala Breslin given the stay in effect resulting from the appeal, lack of agreement by all heirs (which may include intestate heirs not previously provided notice of these proceedings), or a noticed motion.

The letters of special administration are extended on the same terms and conditions and will now expire on October 30, 2026.  No further order is required, but special administrator is directed to submit new amended letters.

 

  1. Estate of Suzanne V. Royce
    25PR00352
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. An Order on Final Distribution was filed 1/30/26. This matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Estate of Denise Helen Goltz
    25PR00479
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for status of Inventory and Appraisal and Final Account and Distribution.

 

  1. Estate of Edward Joseph Dal Poggetto
    25PR00485
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  In light of the information provided in the case management statement filed July 14, 2026, this matter is CONTINUED to November 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 63 for status of final account and distribution.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Gertrude Martha Tejano
    26PR00110
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Required documents have been received and reviewed. This matter is CONTINUED to the Case Management Conference calendar on July 29, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 for status of compliance with the requirement to file a First and Final Account and Report of the Conservator. If an account and report or request for waiver of accounting has been filed at least seven days prior to the hearing no appearances will be required.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Faramarz Kiani
    26PR00166
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for status of compliance with Probate Code section 2352.5, which requires the filing of a Confidential Conservator Care Plan – Part 1 and 2, within 120 days of the date of the court’s order appointing conservator.  The Court ordered compliance when the order appointing the conservator was granted on March 27, 2026.

 

  1. Matter of Virginia I. Knudsen Trust
    26PR00303
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for jury trial setting.  The Court intends to sever the legal and equitable claims of the petition, and to set a jury trial on the legal claims.  The Court’s view is that the right to a jury attaches to the financial elder abuse claim pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657.5(a), and to the claim for punitive damages pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657.5 and Civil Code section 3294.  All other claims shall trail, to be tried to the Court.  The time for trial on the remaining claims shall be set after conclusion of the jury trial.   Based on the availability of counsel and the Court’s trial schedule, the Court intends to set the jury trial on April 2, 2027 or April 9, 2027 with a 5-8 day time estimate.  The Court notes objector’s counsel did not provide any dates of unavailability.

 

  1. Estate of Harriett Kathryn Kendall
    SPR64889
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. In light of the information provided in the status report filed on July 22, 2026, this matter is CONTINUED to December 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 63 for status of final account and distribution.  The Court notes this case has been open since 2008 when the Court appointed Harriet Weseloh as executor. It appears that Harriet Weseloh filed her first Petition in 1994, that was later dropped from calendar. The decedent died 6/2/92.  On 5/21/24 the Court removed Harriet Weseloh and appointed Mark Matthews as successor administrator.  If the house cannot be sold prior to the next hearing, the Court will likely require distribution of the property in kind to the heirs to close the estate, or will dismiss this matter without prejudice or discharge. 
 

 

  1. Conservatorship of Brian Arn Wims
    SPR094631
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is DROPPED in light of the August 28, 2026, hearing on the Request and Order for Waiver of Accounting.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Charles Raymond Lamont
    SPR097389
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  Matter is CONTINUED to September 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 63 for status of final account.

 

  1. Estate of Betty Bernice Millman
    SPR097616
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Matter is DROPPED in light of the August 14, 2026, hearing on the Petition for Final Distribution.

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***