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 63 "Zoom" Online

To Join Department 63 "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 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

August 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. 

  1. Estate of Robert Rudd Reyes
    23PR00357
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.   Letters in this case were issued on January 23, 2024.  When the probate was opened, a case management conference hearing date was set for May 1, 2025, for status.  The tentative ruling prior to that hearing required appearances.  No appearances were made and the Court issued an Order to Show Cause (OSC) based on the failure to appear as well as the failure to timely proceed with estate administration or show good cause for delay.  On May 13, 2025, the OSC, which noticed a hearing for July 31, 2025, was served on the personal representative.  The personal representative appeared at the July hearing and the matter was continued to December 4, 2025.  The personal representative appeared at that hearing as well and the matter was continued again to April 16, 2026.  Despite prior indications that a petition for final distribution was forthcoming, none was filed before the April 16, 2026 hearing and the Court issued the following tentative ruling, which was adopted when there were no requests to appear:

An Order to Show Cause (OSC) was issued to the administrator on May 13, 2025. Despite the passage of almost a year, and several continuances, there has been no change in the status of the case. The Administrator is removed forthwith. The case will be dismissed at the next hearing if there is no petition for appointment of a successor administrator filed. Administrator is not discharged. Matter is CONTINUED to August 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 12 for dismissal without prejudice or filing of petition for appointment of successor administrator. A copy of these minutes shall be served on the beneficiary listed in the petition for probate.

These minutes were served on the personal representative.  After the personal representative was removed and letters revoked, a petition for final distribution was filed on July 9, 2026.  If there was a basis to seek reconsideration of the order of removal, or if the failure to respond or appear was the result of mistake, inadvertence, etc., there are legal means to seek relief.  None of these were or have yet been pursued.  It is not appropriate for a court to simply ignore its own orders.  In light of the order of removal, there is no standing to file the petition for final distribution and it is stricken.  The corresponding hearing of September 4, 2026 is VACATED.  This case is DISMISSED without prejudice.  The personal representative is not discharged and remains personally liable for any loss to the estate as a result of any breach of fiduciary duty to the extent allowed by law and established by the facts.

The Court notes when this case was opened, the decedent’s mother was listed as the sole beneficiary.  If she has post-deceased the decedent, the estate here must be distributed to her estate. 

 

  1. Estate of Betty Jean James
    24PR00873
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter was continued from a prior case management conference over five months ago on March 5, 2026, at which time the administrator indicated a petition for final distribution would be forthcoming.  None has been filed.  An Order to Show Cause shall issue why the administrator should not be sanctioned and/or removed for failure to timely proceed with estate administration or show good cause for delay.  Matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Matter of William H. Ator, Celia P. Ator Trust|
    24PR01054
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  A Dismissal was filed August 10, 2026. Matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Estate of Sharon Ann Thompson
    25PR00182
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: APPEARANCES REQUIRED for status of final account and distribution.

 

  1. Estate of Joyce M. Tinsley
    25PR00615
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  In light of the information provided in the Statement of Issues filed August 18, 2026, this matter is CONTINUED to November 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 63 for status of final account and distribution.

 

  1. Matter of The Carole G. Rosvold 2014 Revocable Trust
    25PR00730
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. In light of the Dismissal filed on 8/12/26, this matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Matter of Christopher Cervantes
    26PR00294
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  In light of the information provided in the declaration in response to the Order to Show Cause (OSC), the OSC is dismissed.  Matter is CONTINUED to November 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 63 for proof of deposit of funds into a blocked account.  If proof, Judicial Council form MC-356, is filed at least seven days prior to the hearing no appearances will be required and the matter will be dropped from calendar.

 

  1. Matter of Shane Curtis
    26PR00529
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. Acknowledgment of Receipt of Order and Funds for Deposit in Blocked Account was filed 7/6/26.

This matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Conservatorship of Larry N. Bieber
    SPR71406
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED. The Twelfth Account and Report was filed June 5, 2026. This matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

  1. Matter of the Sombath Sundara Special Needs Trust
    SPR84801
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  The Court presumes more time is needed to file the first accounting of the successor trustee.  Matter is CONTINUED to October 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Dept. 63  for status of accounting.

 

  1. Estate of Fan-Jon Tseng
    SPR097549
    Case Management Conference

Tentative Ruling: NO APPEARANCES REQUIRED.  This matter was continued from a prior case management conference over six months ago on February 19, 2026.  No petition for final distribution has been filed.  An Order to Show Cause shall issue why the administrator should not be sanctioned and/or removed for failure to timely proceed with estate administration or show good cause for delay.  Matter is DROPPED from calendar.

 

***End of Tentative Rulings***