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.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026

Department 22
8:30 a.m.

PR-22-000296 ESTATE OF NIRAJ AMIT SINGH
Hearing on First and Final Report of Administrator and Petition for Final Distribution on Waivers of Account, Waiver of Statutory Compensation and for Compensation to Guardian ad Litem continued from 12/11/25, 01/07/26:
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 08/20/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001156 ESTATE OF WESLEY DEWAYNE GROGAN SR.
Hearing on Petition for Final Distribution, Settlement of First and Final Account, Report of Administration, Allowance of Compensation of Personal Representative and Allowance of Attorney’s Fees, Extraordinary Fees and Costs continued from 01/14/26:
On 01/14/26, the court directed counsel to submit a joint stipulation regarding the disbursements.  Stipulation and Waiver is on file.
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented with the modification of extraordinary attorney’s fees per court’s 01/14/26 order.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 08/20/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001178 ESTATE OF ARCHIE LANE, AKA ARCHIE C. LANE
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed continued from 12/16/25:
Requested bond of $150,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate alleged in the petition.
It appears there was a prior case for probate in this court for this decedent (case #302396) and the original Will was admitted on 03/17/1994.
Verified supplement providing information why subsequent administration is needed is on file.
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented.
Recommend Inventory Review Hearing 08/13/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.41B.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

ADD ON:

PR-26-000120 ESTATE OF ELFRED MEITZENHEIMER JR.
Hearing on Petition to Determine Succession to Primary Residence set per ex parte order (file marked 02/06/26):
If no one appears to object, recommend court find notice of hearing waived
and approve the petition.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
COURT HOLIDAY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

Department 21
8:30 a.m.

PR-25-000508 TRAMMELL 1998 TRUST DTD JUNE 11, 1998, AS AMENDED – THE BYPASS TRUST
Settlement Conference:
Appearances mandatory (by VCourt if preferred).

Department 22
There are no decedent’s estates or trusts on calendar

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026

Department 22
8:30 a.m.

PR-18-000314 ESTATE OF DIANE FRANCIS BELLO, AKA DIANE FRANCIS KAISER
(1)    Order to Show Cause issued 06/25/25 to Andon Rogers continued from 10/15/25, 12/04/25:
To appear and show cause for failing to appear at 06/25/25, 10/15/25 and 12/04/25 hearings and failure to file a declaration regarding timely PrC §12200 Status Report as directed by the Court.

(2)    Hearing on Petition for Final Distribution, Settlement of First and Final Account, Report of Administration, Allowance of Compensation of Personal Representative and Allowance of Attorney’s Fees, Extraordinary Fees and Costs:
•    Notice of Hearing not on file (PrC §§ 10830, 11000, 11601).
•    Paragraph 2 of the prayer (page 13) indicates a Waiver of Accounting is on file; however, notarized Waivers of Accounting are not on file. 
    o    Title of the pleading does not reflect a waiver of accounting.  Please clarify. See CRC rule 7.102.
•    Schedule K (proposed distribution) itemizes $12,877.54 reimbursement to Personal Representative, Andon Rogers; however, the title of the pleading does not reflect a request for reimbursement. [see Probate Code § 10830,     California Rule of Court 7.102, Local Rule 8.83L].
    o    Please provide copies of receipts for the $4,095.54 reimbursement request labeled as “Out of Pocket Costs” on Exhibit C.
•    Creditor’s Claims are recited on Schedule K as proposed distributions.  The Examiner does not recommend the estate be closed when a creditor’s claim is still pending. Creditor’s Claims should be paid and satisfactions filed before final distribution is approved.
•    Order Pursuant to Stipulation filed 04/21/21 recites the Law Office of Sekhon and O’Bryant shall receive $4,200.00 from the Probate Estate as extraordinary fees and costs, “upon filing of itemized billing.” Itemized billing is not yet on file nor included in the accounting.
•    The report accurately reflects a Creditor’s Claim and Request for Special Notice was submitted by Franchise Tax Board. Examiner notes that these documents are not in the Court’s file but were rejected by the Clerk’s Office for correction on 11/08/21. Please include a copy of these forms for the Court’s file. 
When defects are cured, will recommend the court hold a hearing to admonish Administrator and Administrator’s counsel they must not hold liquid estate assets in the attorney’s attorney-client trust account as no interest will accrue to benefit the estate. See PrC section 9652.

Appearance by Administrator and Administrator’s counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-000506 SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST OF STEVEN D. WILSON
Account Review Hearing reset on the court’s own motion from 08/12/25, continued from 11/05/25:
First Account and Report of Trustee not on file at time of review.
Recommend court issue Order to Show Cause to Trustee to appear and show cause why surcharge should not be imposed, and/or the Trustee removed, for failure to present Account.
Appearance by Trustee and counsel mandatory (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-000963 ESTATE OF GARY ALAN JOHNSON
Hearing on Court’s Motion to Dismiss the Petition to Determine Entitlements, set by Minute Order 10/15/25:
Opposition (purs. PrC§11702) filed 12/03/24 (by the personal representative in his capacity as an heir).
On 04/16/25, the parties stipulated to engage in mediation. 
A Notice of (conditional) Settlement was filed by the petitioner on 08/26/25.
A Petition to Approve a Settlement has not been filed.
Recommend court issue Order to Show Cause to the petitioner (for petition to determine entitlements) and petitioner’s counsel to appear on 06/10/26 and show cause why the court should not dismiss the petition.
Recommend continuance to 06/10/26 to coincide with Account Review Hearing already set.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000358 ESTATE OF CHARLET GIVARGIS
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.
Recommend continuance to 07/16/26 to allow time for filing of above pleadings. 
If neither pleading is on file by the next hearing date, the court may issue an order to show cause for personal representative to appear pursuant to PrC§12202.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001197 ESTATE OF JEFFREY A. ELWESS
Account Review Hearing:
A Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing 04/15/26.
Hearing of 04/15/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001201 ESTATE OF JOSE Z. SANCHEZ, AKA JOSE Z. SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ, 
Account Review Hearing:
See Local Rule 8.82. Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report are on file.
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.
Recommend continuance to 07/16/26 to allow time for filing of above pleadings. If neither pleading is on file by the next hearing date, the court may issue an order to show cause for personal representative to appear pursuant to PrC§12202.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001214 ESTATE OF IQWAL SINGH
Account Review Hearing:
See Local Rule 8.82. Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report are on file.
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.
Recommend continuance to 07/16/26 to allow time for filing of above pleadings. If neither pleading is on file by the next hearing date, the court may issue an order to show cause for personal representative to appear pursuant to PrC§12202.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000197 ESTATE OF GILBERT CHARLES LONG
Inventory Review Hearing:
Letters have only very recently been approved for issuance.
Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file. See Local Rule 8.41 B, Probate Code section 8800 et seq.
Consider visiting the California Courts Self Help “inventory” page at
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate/inventory-estimate-value and downloading forms from https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm and please review your responsibilities in the Duties and Liabilities, Form DE-147, you signed and filed.
Recommend continuance to 06/23/26 to allow time for filing of Final Inventory and Appraisal.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000351 ESTATE OF CAROL ANN COCKRELL
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal on file.
•    Inventory and Appraisal omits characterization of decedent’s property [PrC§8850(c)]. This information will be needed prior to the closing of the estate.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 10/21/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000365 ESTATE OF MARCIE J. BARLOW ISAMAN, AKA MARCIE BARLOW, MARCIE JOHNSON ISAMAN
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 10/21/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000448 ESTATE OF ALICIA A. MENDOZA
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
•    Inventory and Appraisal omits characterization of decedent’s property [PrC§8850(c)]. This information will be needed prior to the closing of the estate. 
Recommend Account Review Hearing 10/13/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000675 ESTATE OF MICHAEL EDWARD FREDERICK; AKA MICHAEL E. FREDERICK, MICHAEL FREDERICK
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 10/21/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000025 ESTATE OF ALICE FAYE BRIDGES, AKA ALICE FAYE ANDERSON
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
Please make sure in future filings to include the shortened case caption on every subsequent page.
Proposed bond of $300,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate as alleged in the petition.
Recommend approval of petition.
Recommend Inventory Review Hearing 08/18/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.41 B.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-000601 ESTATE OF CAROL HAWKINS
Hearing on PrC§12200 Status Report of Administration:
Notice appears complete.
Recommend court allow estate to remain open and set a further Account Review Hearing 12/02/26 at which time a Second PrC§12200 Status Report must be filed if a Petition for Final Distribution is not on file.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-001036 ESTATE OF AUREL VIREGAN
Hearing on First and Final Report of Administrator and Petition for Final Distribution on Waiver of Account and Waiver of Statutory Compensation:
•    Waivers of Accounting do not bear notary’s acknowledgement (Local Rule 8.69).
Recommend continuance to 03/20/26 to allow time to provide the above pleadings.
Recommend court vacate the 02/25/26 Account Review Hearing.
Appearance not required (Anyone wishing to appear may do so in person, or remotely, by telephone using VCourt).

PR-25-001123 MATTER OF RAFAEL R. ARMENTA SR. FAMILY 2011 TRUST
Hearing on Petition for Order Determining Title to Assets and for Order Approving Modification of Irrevocable Trust:
•    This petition seeks relief purs. to both PrC§§17200 and 850. PrC§851 requires certain information be given in the notice, and the Judicial Council adopted Form DE-115 as mandatory for that purpose. Petitioners have filed Form DE-120 Notice of Hearing, as was necessary purs. to PrC§17203, but Form DE-115 not on file.
•    Decedent’s will identified a child of decedent’s whose name and location were unknown to him at the time the will was drafted. A Declaration of Due Diligence reflecting petitioners’ efforts to locate and serve that interested person has not been filed. See California Rule of Court 7.52.
•    Notice of Hearing not on file for Kaarolt Armenta, the then-wife of decedent named in his will.
•    Please provide supporting documentation reflecting that the assets listed in paragraph 4 of the petition were held in the name of the Settlor at the time of death, in the percentages alleged in the petition. 
•    The petition and proposed Order must set forth in explicit language the language to be modified in the Trust. Reference to the settlement agreement is not sufficient.
•    It doesn’t appear that the decedent’s will was lodged with the clerk of this county. Was it lodged in a different court? If not, where is the original will?
•    Please file each of the Consents as a separate pleading not attached to any other document.
•    The proposed order includes instructions to the corporation and limited liability companies for which ownership is at issue, and one of the proposed modifications to the Trust is an instruction to Trustees to distribute a piece of real property from the settlor’s interest in one of the LLC’s. Recommend court require the petitioner to give notice of hearing pursuant to PrC§851 on the corporation and LLC’s.
Recommend continuance to 05/20/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000001 ESTATE OF DOLORES MARIE CORLEY
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:

Defects in the petition which petitioner must work to address:
•    Heading of petition page 1 omitted box in checkmark “Authorization to Administer Under the Independent Administration of Estates Act”.
•    Item 1 was left blank (name of the newspaper where Petitioner intends to publish notice. See Probate Code section 8121 and the court’s website here: https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate/newspapers ).
•    Item 2b was left blank (name of proposed administrator).
•    Item 2d was left blank (petitioner’s request regarding bond or blocked account). See note below regarding item 3e.
•    Item 3d was left blank (the character and estimated value of the property of this estate). 
    o    Depending on the value of the estate property, formal probate may not be necessary. Please review Probate Code sections 890, 13000 et seq, and visit the California Self Help website (link at the bottom of this Note).
•    Item 5a(1) or (2) was not completed (existence of spouse).
•    Item 5a(3) or (4) was not completed (existence of registered domestic partner).
•    Item 5a(7) or (8) was not completed (existence of issue of a predeceased child).
•    Petitioner signed the petition above the statement regarding penalty of perjury (known as the verification). By doing so, she effectively did not verify the petition. Verification is required.

Defects in the file which petitioner must work to address:
•    Waivers of bond [Form DE-142/DE-111(A-3e)] not on file for all intestate heirs (see Probate Code section 6401). Bond may be required. 
    o    However, personal representative resides out of state. See PrC§8571. Even if petitioner were to file bond waivers, bond may be required at the court’s discretion. Submitted to court for determination.
•    Form DE-147 Duties and Liabilities not on file.
•    Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate not on file.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
•    Forms DE-140 and DE-150, Proposed Order and Letters, not submitted.

Consider visiting the California Courts Self Help page at
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate and downloading forms from https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm
Appearance by petitioner (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000021 ESTATE OF JOHN DALE CHURCH, AKA DALE CHURCH
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
•    Date of counsel’s signature omitted from petition.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
Note for the future, not a defect in this instance: Petition item 8 included second generation heirs but not the deceased ancestor through which they take (please see Local Rule 8.26 E). A Family Tree was filed separately, which is helpful and may arguably “cure” this Note, but in the future please comply with the Local Rule by including the deceased ancestor in item 8.
Recommend continuance to 04/17/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000022 ESTATE OF MERRY C. ROCHE, AKA MERRY CAROL ROCHE
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary:
Will is self-proving.
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented and admission of Will to probate.
Recommend Inventory Review Hearing 08/18/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.41 B.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-26-000023 ESTATE OF KATHLEEN MATILDA KANIKKEBERG, AKA KATHLEEN M. KANNIKKEBERG, KATHLEEN KANNIKEBERG
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
Petition item 2b(1) through (4) were left blank (type of personal representative).
Please make sure in future filings to include the shortened case caption on every subsequent page.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000025 ESTATE OF ALICE FAYE BRIDGES, AKA ALICE FAYE ANDERSON
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
Please make sure in future filings to include the shortened case caption on every subsequent page.
Proposed bond of $300,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate as alleged in the petition.
Recommend approval of petition.
Recommend Inventory Review Hearing 08/18/26 pursuant to Local Rule 8.41 B.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).