Probate Law & Motion

Advisements

If the tentative ruling is accepted, no appearance by Zoom 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 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

October 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.  

  1. Matter of Robert C Vance, Delores K Vance Trust
    24PR00237

Status Update

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. On March 19, 2026, and again on June 25, 2026, the Court ordered the parties to file status updates, but none have been filed.  Therefore, the matter is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to Sonoma County Local Rule 6.2(C)(2)(c).  If the parties request appearances, the Court is inclined to set the matter for trial. Counsel requesting to appear should be prepared to discuss trial readiness, trial availability, and estimates for length of trial.

  1. Matter of Jennifer Bioche
    26PR00243

Petition to Determine Validity of Power of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directive, to Remove Existing Agent, and to Appoint Petitioner as Sole Agent

Tentative Ruling: Notice directly to Judith Tomsic is required. See California Probate Code §4544(a) and California Rules of Court Rules 7.51(a)&(b). After several continuances, there is no proof of service of notice to Judith Tomsic. Therefore, the matter is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to Sonoma County Local Rule 6.2(C)(2)(c).

*End of Tentative Rulings*