Probate Notes

Probate Examiners, Anne Holsinger and Michelle Warren, may be reached at Probate.Examiner@stanct.org . Telephone calls can be directed to the Probate Unit as set forth above. Emails must have the case identification information and hearing time/date in the subject line. No attachments will be opened. The Probate Examiner can only respond to inquiries regarding the meaning of comments in the notes. Please do not email to notify that documents have been filed, to request a confirmation whether documents have been received, or to request the clearing of notes. No legal or procedural advice may be given by the Probate Examiner in response to your email.

• It is the goal of the Probate Examiner to have Probate Notes posted five (5) calendar days prior to the hearing.
• Defects described in the Probate Notes must be corrected prior to approval of the moving papers. 
• If you are filing documents to cure technical defects, they should be filed NO LATER THAN FIVE COURT DAYS before the hearing.  Later-filed documents might not be reviewed prior to the hearing and could result in a continuance of your case.

Probate Notes will be updated as needed when late-filed documents are reviewed.  Please note:  Late-filed documents that do not contain the hearing date in the caption require more time and effort to be matched to the files.  This may result in an otherwise avoidable continuance.

Please Note: "Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred)."

This language indicates that no one is required to appear at the hearing.  Probate hearings are open to the public, however, and anyone who wishes to observe a proceeding may do so. Appearances in most cases may be made in person or remotely, by telephone, using VCourt. For more information on how to appear by VCourt, please see the section "Remote Telephonic Hearings" on the home page of this website.
 

POSTED JANUARY 6, 2026
Local Rules of Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus, revisions effective January 1, 2026, are now available for download.

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2025; POSTED MARCH 5, 2025
Inventory and Appraisals:  An Inventory and Appraisal must be filed in all decedent's estates, conservatorship, and guardianship matters by a date certain pursuant to statute. If the estate has no assets at all as of the date of the appraisal (e.g., the date of decedent's death, or the date of appointment), an Inventory and Appraisal is still required and failure to file the form even when the estate has no value will very likely result in a required court appearance. For more information, those interested are invited to review the California Probate Referee Guide published by the California Probate Referee's Association, which is available for download online.

If more time is needed to marshal the assets, please see California Probate Code section 8800(b) and (c). Failure to file the Inventory and Appraisal by the statutory deadline, or obtain an extension of time, may result in penalties.

If the Inventory and Appraisal has been submitted to the probate referee but not filed prior to the Inventory Review date, the Personal Representative, or their retained counsel, may file a declaration attesting to these facts and provide an anticipated timeframe for filing.  The Court may, in its discretion, continue the Inventory Review hearing without required appearances.

POSTED JULY 15, 2025
Probate customers may view the documents in the court's files online by accessing the Case Search Portal on the court's website. Access to view confidential documents remains restricted.

POSTED DECEMBER 16, 2024
Please visit the new Probate Examiner's Corner section of the Probate Division webpage where you will find news, reminders, and guides!

POSTED SEPTEMBER 29, 2022, UPDATED 12/02/22

• Please help expand the list of qualified counsel willing to accept appointment in Probate matters, as either court-appointed counsel in Conservatorships pursuant to PrC§1471, Guardians ad litem, successor personal representatives in decedents' estates, and successor trustees. 

• For appointment as counsel in a Conservatorship, please see the list of qualifications and requirements found in California Rule of Court 7.1103 and 7.1105.

• Review forms PR004, PR005, and GC-010 available for download on the Common Forms & Packets page here: https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/common-forms-packets for more information.  Remit your completed forms to the Superior Court.

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2026
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

Department 21
8:30 a.m.

ADD-ON:
PR-25-000841 ESTATE OF DANIEL R. HUTSELL, AKA DANIEL RICHARD HUTSELL
Ex Parte Hearing on Application for Order Shortening Time for Hearing on Petition for Instructions Pursuant to Probate Code Section 10589(b):
Hearing required.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

WEDNESDAY, JULY 01, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

THURSDAY, JULY 02, 2026

Department 21
8:30 a.m.

PR-22-001064 ESTATE OF CLARA CONSTANCE NUNES, AKA CLARA C. NUNES
Order to Show Cause issued 06/22/26 to Rickie James Perry:
To appear and show cause for failure to appear at the 06/22/26 hearing.
Appearance required (by VCourt if preferred).

Department 22
8:30 a.m.
There are no matters on calendar in Department 22

FRIDAY, JULY 03, 2025
COURT HOLIDAY

MONDAY, JULY 06, 2026
Department 22
8:30 a.m.

There are no matters on calendar in Department 22

TUESDAY, JULY 07, 2026

Department 22
8:30 a.m.

PR-18-000293 MELISSA NICOLE LINHARES SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST
Account Review Hearing:
Fifth Account Current and Report of Trustee not on file.
Recommend continuance to 11/05/26 to allow time for above to be filed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-21-000536 ESTATE OF JESUS PLANCARTE-BOCANEGRA AKA JESUS PLANCARTE BOCANEGRA
Account Review Hearing continued from 03/03/26:
On 03/03/26 court ordered the personal representative to file a PrC§12200 Status Report with Notice of Hearing within 90 days if estate is not in position to be closed.
•    Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report have been filed. 
Recommend court issue Order to Show Cause to personal representative and personal representative’s counsel to be personally present pursuant to PrC§12202:
    o    To show condition of estate and why estate cannot be distributed and closed;
    o    So that court may order personal representative to prepare and file a First Account Current at the court’s discretion pursuant to PrC§12202(b).
    o    Noncompliance may result in removal of personal representative from office (PrC§§12204, 8500).
Appearance by Administrator and Administrator’s counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-000289 MATTER OF MACHADO FAMILY CREDIT BYPASS TRUST
1.    Hearing on Motion for Consolidation of Trials of Related Actions:
SEE TENTATIVE RULING, to be posted day prior to hearing at https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings/…

2.    Hearing on Petition by Angela M. Estacio, Adult Daughter of Surviving Trustor Angela Machado, to Confirm Trust Property and to Compel Production of an Accounting and Trust Records file-marked 03/20/23, trial dates previously vacated by stipulation and order file-marked 07/15/25, thereafter reset by Minute Order 11/07/25 and continued from 02/26/26, 04/29/26:
Objection filed – 08/09/23, by A. Cabral.
Trial re-setting. Counsel were directed to meet and confer as to trial dates.

3.    Hearing on First and Final Account and Report of Trustee and Petition for Settlement of Trust Administration and for Final Distribution file-marked 05/10/24, as amended by First Amendment file-marked 07/03/24 and Second Amendment file-marked 07/12/24, reset by Minute Order 11/07/25 and continued from 02/26/26, 04/29/26:
This is the first hearing at which notice appeared complete.
Opposition filed - 08/13/24, by A. Estacio.
Recommend court set deadline for any other objections.

4.    Hearing on Petition for Declaratory Relief file-marked 11/06/25 continued from 02/26/26, 04/29/26:
Objection filed – 02/24/26, by A. Estacio.
Trial setting. Counsel were directed to meet and confer as to trial dates.

Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000994 ESTATE OF WILLIAM HENRY MARTIN, AKA WILLIAM H. MARTIN 
Account Review Hearing continued 02/25/26:
On 02/25/26 court ordered the personal representative to file a PrC§12200 Status Report with Notice of Hearing within 90 days if estate is not in position to be closed.
•    Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report have been filed. 
Recommend court issue Order to Show Cause to personal representative to be personally present pursuant to PrC§12202:
    o    To show condition of estate and why estate cannot be distributed and closed;
    o    So that court may order personal representative to prepare and file a First Account Current at the court’s discretion pursuant to PrC§12202(b).
    o    Noncompliance may result in removal of personal representative from office (PrC§§12204, 8500).
Appearance by Administrator (self-represented) required (Anyone appearing may do so in person or remotely, by telephone using VCourt).

PR-25-000214 ESTATE OF KERRY JO WALKER, AKA KERRY J. WALKER, AKA KERRY WALKER
Account Review Hearing:
Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing on 08/05/26.
Hearing of 08/05/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000217 ESTATE OF CARL. N. HELTON
Hearing on Amended Petition (file-marked 02/26/26) for Partition of Real Property [partition by sale] continued from 12/10/25, 03/04/26:
Notice of recorded notice of pendency of action on file, as required by CCP§872.250(c).
Proof of summons on file for Respondents named in the amended petition.
•    Prior Note remains: Prayer includes appointment of clerk of the court as elisor; that request for relief was not included in the pleading caption. See California Rules of Court rule 7.102.
•    Prior Note remains: Prayer includes request for reasonable attorney’s fees; that request for relief was not included in the pleading caption. See California Rules of Court rule 7.102.
Submit to court’s determination whether paragraph 23 specifically and the rest of the petition generally provide justification for relief sought in sufficiently “ordinary” language purs. to CCP§872.230(e).
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000262 ESTATE OF DENNIS J. LOCKARD
(1)    Account Review Hearing:
•    Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report are on file at the time of review.  See Local Rule 8.82. 
Recommend court order personal representative to file a PrC§12200 Status Report (with Notice pursuant to PrC§12201) within 90 days if estate is not in a position to be closed.

(2)    Hearing on Petition for Return of Property; (PrC §850) for Double Damages (PrC §859); to Impose Constructive Trust; for Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Unjust Enrichment; for Open Book Account; for Financial Elder Abuse (WIC §15610.30); and for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs continued from 03/12/26:
No defects in petition.
On 03/12/26, parties were directed to meet and confer. If this matter is not settled on 07/07/26, the Court will set a date certain for a response.
Hearing required.
Appearances required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001205 ESTATE OF CAROLE ANNE SORIANO
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 03/09/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001207 ESTATE OF CAROL ANN FORREST, AKA CAROL ANN BECKHART, CAROL ANNE FORREST, CAROL ANNE BECKHART
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final and Supplemental Inventory and Appraisals on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 03/09/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001234 ESTATE OF CLARE MORAN, AKA CLARE DUNN MORAN
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
•    Inventory and Appraisal omits characterization of decedent’s property (community or separate property) [PrC§8850(c)]. This information will be needed prior to the closing of the estate.
Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing on 08/04/26.
Hearing of 08/04/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-001193 ESTATE OF MARTIN J. McKEAN, AKA MARTIN McKEAN
Hearing on First and Final Report of Administrators on Waiver of Account and Petition for Allowance of Statutory Compensation to Attorney, and for Final Distribution:
Recommend approval of Report and Petition.
Need new proposed Order: Paragraph 3 misstates the decedent’s date of death (08/31/23).
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 01/27/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000983 ESTATE OF KELLY RENE EVANS
Hearing on PrC§12200 Status Report of Administration: 
Notice appears complete.
•    Report does not show the condition of this estate. See PrC§12201(a).
•    Report does not adequately explain the reason(s) this estate cannot be closed. See PrC§12201(a). What is the issue with the estate of this decedent’s surviving-but-now-deceased-spouse? 
If the report is not supplemented or amended to elaborate, a hearing appears required.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001150 ESTATE OF BEVERLY ANN SARABIA
Hearing on Petition for the Termination of Further Proceedings and for Discharge of the Personal Representative and for an Order (PrC §12251):
•    Petition is not verified.  See CRC rule 7.103, PrC §1021 and CCP §446.  Page 2 does not meet the requirements of CCP §446.  
See California Rules of Court rules 7.3 and 7.53 regarding the types of pleadings that may be used to address this defect. 
•    Proposed Order submitted 05/07/26 omitted the Court’s finding regarding notice [see PrC§1260].
Recommend continuance to 07/15/26, to coincide with Inventory Review Hearing already set, to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-25-000817 ESTATE OF GLADYS QUIROZ
Hearing on Petition for Final Distribution, Final Report of Administration, Settlement of Estate, Allowance of Compensation of Personal Representative and Allowance of Attorneys Fees, Costs, Waiver of Account: 
•    Description of assets on hand omitted legal description and assessor’s parcel number of real property as required by CRC 7.651(b)(3).
•    It appears that there is insufficient liquidity in the estate to pay attorney’s compensation and costs. Please clarify how fees and costs will be paid.
Recommend continuance to 07/16/26, to coincide with Inventory Review Hearing already set, to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000439 ESTATE OF DAVID BEITKARIM
Hearing on Petition to Determine Succession to Primary Residence:
•    Please provide additional detail in Attachment 11 to satisfy petition item 11(2) (facts that show the property was decedent’s primary residence in California).
•    Copy of grant deed showing current title was not attached or provided on separate pleading. See Local Rule 8.99.
•    Proof of mailing not on file for the Department of Health Care Services, nor Declaration that notice is not required (see Local Rule 8.17 and PrC§215).
Recommend continuance to 08/07/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000441 ESTATE OF MEI ZHEN MEI
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary:
Will is not self-proving per Local Rule 8.23 but a Proof of Subscribing Witness (Form DE-131) is on file.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
Recommend continuance to 08/07/26 to allow time to cure defect.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000476 KENT A. AND CHERYL MAHONEY FAMILY TRUST
Hearing on Petition to Compel Trustee to Report Information to Beneficiary; to Compel Trustee to Account to Beneficiary; and to Instruct Trustee to Make Proper Allocations and Distributions of Trust Assets (filed by Dayna Nicole Mahoney):
•    Notice not on file at time of review.  See PC§17203(a) for notice requirements in trust proceedings.
    o    On 06/04/26, the Court granted petitioner’s ex parte request to service summons by publication. Affidavit of publication not on file.
•    It appears all pages of the Trust may not have been attached to the Petition (starts at page 2-1).  
•    Proposed order not yet submitted.
Recommend continuance to 10/07/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-26-000495 ESTATE OF JOHN CHARLES ELDER, AKA JOHN C. ELDER
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary:
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
Recommend continuance to 08/07/26 to allow time to cure defect.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000537 ESTATE OF JOE ALVERNAZ
Hearing on Spousal Property Petition:
•    It doesn’t appear that the decedent’s will has been lodged with the clerk of this county yet. Was it lodged in a different court? If not, where is the original will?
•    Only petition item 1a is checked, and not 1b, which means the only request is for a court order that decedent’s property passes to petitioner and there is no request that property belonging to petitioner be confirmed to her; please submit a new proposed order:
    o    Leaving item 7a unchecked;
    o    Modifying the language at the top of Attachment 5a to remove any language regarding confirmation of property to the petitioner.
Recommend continuance to 07/24/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

9:30 a.m.

PR-22-001064 ESTATE OF CLARA CONSTANCE NUNES, AKA CLARA C. NUNES
Court Trial (2-3 day estimate):
Appearances mandatory.