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.

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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, JULY 31, 2026
Department 22
8:30 a.m.

PR-23-000936 ESTATE OF SHARON LEE WYNNE 
Hearing on PrC §12200 Status Report continued from 05/20/26:
Prior defects cured. Notice complete.
A Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing 09/03/26.
Hearing of 09/03/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000067 ESTATE OF ROBIN G. CARTER
Hearing on First and Final Account and Report of Administrator and Petition for Final Distribution; Waiver of Compensation by Administrator; for Allowance of Compensation to Attorney for Ordinary Services and for Final Distribution continued from 03/03/26, 05/06/26:
Prior Notes:
The petition reflects it is petitioner’s allegation that the entirety of this estate is comprised of community property. Neither the Petition nor the Final Inventory and Appraisal specify whether the assets inventoried represent the decedent's one-half community interest only or 100% of the community property.
• An election of the surviving spouse to administer her 50% of the community property purs. to PrC§13502 was not filed, and therefore only the decedent’s 50% community property may be subject to probate. Per the Supplement file-marked 07/27/26,  the personal representative asks the court to make the determination anyway, pursuant to PrC§13656, without the filing of a late election.
      o    Update: Unless the estate assets are comprised of only decedent’s 50% of the community property (which has still not been clarified), the calculation of statutory compensation appears incorrect.  If the attorney uses 100% of the community property value as the fee base, the attorney is effectively charging a statutory fee on the decedent's 50% interest plus the surviving spouse's own 50% interest. It appears that only the decedent’s 50% interest of the community property may be used in the calculation of statutory compensation purs. to PrC§§10810-1.
Hearing required.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001217 ESTATE OF TARAH ROTERMUND
Account Review Hearing continued from 05/20/26, 06/25/26:
Prior Notes:
The current bond is $50,000.00. Receipt of deposit of funds into blocked account is on file, reflecting that only $75,000.00 of the $315,355.78 sale proceeds received by seller (as reflected in the escrow statement attached to the 05/21/26 Declaration filed by the personal representative) were deposited into a blocked account as the court had ordered at the hearing on confirmation of the sale, which therefore left $190,355.78 of the sale proceeds unprotected.
According to the 05/21/26 Declaration, “$173,135.70 was used to pay off the mortgage on the home the beneficiaries live in.” 

New Notes:
The co-Administrator’s 07/24/26 Declaration elaborates further on how the $190,355.78 was spent prior to deposit of the remainder of the sale proceeds into a blocked account. 
Recommend court accept this representation for now and allow estate to remain open. As the court informed counsel at the last hearing, the co-Administrators are not “off the hook” for possible surcharge in the future, as their use of the sale proceeds was not authorized, and the court had explicitly ordered all sale proceeds to be deposited in a blocked account but for the $50,000.00 protected by the bond. Had there been an urgent need for payment of an estate expense, the co-Administrators can and ought to have filed an ex parte petition for withdrawal or a noticed petition for instructions.
Recommend court order the co-Administrators to file the first PrC§12200 Status Report within 45 days.
Recommend continuance to 10/28/26 to allow time for above to be filed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000355 ESTATE OF FERNANDO ESPINOZA MARTINEZ
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration continued from 06/04/26:
Prior Notes remain:
•    Petition item 8 must include the name and date of death of the decedent’s predeceased spouse.
•    Petition item 8 reflects of the four heirs is a minor. As the court discussed with counsel on 06/04/26, a Guardian ad litem appears necessary in this case. Please see Local Rule 8.07. The petitioner would likely be considered ineligible as Guardian ad litem as there would appear to be an inherent conflict of interest.
•    Form DE-150, Proposed Letters, not submitted.
Recommend court grant continuance requested by counsel in the Declaration file-marked 07/29/26, and continue this matter to 09/04/26.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000392 ESTATE OF DOROTHY SUE MILLER
Hearing on Petition to Determine Succession to Primary Residence continued from 06/23/26:
If no one appears to object, recommend court find notice complete and approve the petition.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-26-000396 ESTATE OF MAX WAYLON EDMISTON
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary continued from 06/23/26:
Defect not cured. Prior note remains:
Will is self-proving.
•    Petition item 8 must include names as they are written in the Will; AKA’s may be used to identify the correct individuals.
•    Notice of Hearing omitted one of the heirs; specifically, Andy Melton Edmiston.
Recommend continuance to 08/21/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000457 MATTER OF MARGARET JOAN HOYLE 2008 REVOCABLE TRUST
Hearing on Petition for Order Confirming Trust Assets continued from 06/17/26:
Nothing has been filed since the previous hearing. Prior Note remains:
•Please identify the Settlor’s intestate heirs. The petition identified only the beneficiaries of the Trust as interested parties (paragraph 8) and not the intestate heirs. 
      o    Petitioner’s Statement filed on 04/27/26 regarding the PrC§6124 presumption (regarding lost/revoked wills) included the allegation that a duplicate original of the will exists. The purported duplicate offered by petitioner is apparently a photocopy of the original will; a photocopy of the will is not a “duplicate original” in the meaning of PrC§6124. Lauermann v. Superior Court (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 1327 [26 Cal.Rptr.3d 258]. The PrC§6124 presumption appears to therefore apply. 
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000503 ESTATE OF ANA CARDENAS
Hearing on Petition to Determine Succession continued from 06/25/26:
Nothing has been filed since the previous hearing. Prior Notes remain:
•    Part of petition item 17 was completed, indicating that the decedent’s estate may have been under either a guardianship or a conservatorship at the time of decedent’s death. Please clarify.
•    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).
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026

No decedent's estates, or trust matters on calendar

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026
Department 22
8:30 a.m.

PR-22-000806 ESTATE OF MICHAEL ANTHONY PERDUE
Account Review Hearing:
PrC §12200 Status Report filed and set for hearing 09/22/26. 
Hearing of 09/22/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-000963 ESTATE OF GARY ALAN JOHNSON

1.    Hearing on Court’s Motion to Dismiss the Petition to Determine Entitlements, set by Minute Order 10/15/25 and continued from 02/18/26, 06/10/26, 07/14/26:
Petition to Determine Persons Entitled to Distribution of Estate filed 07/01/24 by Nicholas Payton.
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 for Approval of Settlement Agreement has been filed and set for hearing 08/04/26. Per the Settlement Agreement, the petition to determine entitlements will be dismissed within sixty (60) days of distribution to Nicholas Payton pursuant to the court’s approval of the pending Petition for Final Distribution. Petition therefore appears to be trailing Petition for Final Distribution.

2.    Hearing on First and Final Report of Administrator on Waiver of Account and Petition for Final Distribution and for Statutory Fees for Administrator and Attorneys and Extraordinary Fees for Attorneys and Reimbursement of Costs continued from 07/14/26:
Updated Notes: 
• The original petition filed 04/23/26 included an “anticipated” Trust distribution (Petition paragraph 27); the Declaration file-marked 07/31/26 alleges that the distribution “will be completed prior to the hearing date”. 
      o    Recommend court require the filing of a Supplement pursuant to CRC rule 7.3 and 7.53 reflecting the specific additional property received after the Petition was filed on 04/23/26 and the specific amount of cash on hand in the estate. It appears that the estate was not in a position to be closed when the Petition was first filed.
• Corrected Partial No. 2 (and Final) Inventory and Appraisal form not on file as alleged in petition paragraph 9. The current I&A’s on file (Corrected  Partial No. 1 file-marked 07/22/26, Partial No. 2 and Final file-marked 03/06/25, Supplemental file-marked 10/10/25) reflect the total appraisal value of the estate is $4,611,134.15, which does not agree with the Final Report. 
• Submit to court’s determination: Paralegal’s hourly rate exceeds this county’s norms. (Declaration in support of extraordinary compensation.)

3.    Hearing on Petition for Approval of Settlement Agreement, and for Continuing Jurisdiction of Court to Enforce Settlement:
Recommend approval of petition. A copy of the proposed order was attached to the petition. Please submit the proposed Order separately.

Appearance by personal representative’s counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000883 MATTER OF KENNETH J. OCKEY REVOCABLE TRUST
Hearing on Petition to Set Aside Trust Amendment; Damages for Financial Elder Abuse and Neglect continued from 11/05/24, 03/26/25, 08/20/25, 02/19/26:    
Continued from 02/19/26 with the direction that parties were to file joint or separate status reports.
No Response has ever been filed. The court has twice asked for joint or separate status reports, and thus far only the Respondent has ever filed a Status Report; both Reports allege that the parties have an “existing extension agreement” and that is why no Response has been filed in the nearly two years since the petition was filed.
The most recent Status Report from Respondent, filed 07/22/26, alleged that more depositions are expected, after which the Respondent intends to file more motions.
Submit to court whether to grant further continuance.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001316 ESTATE OF MARY C. OROZCO, AKA MARY CHRISTINE OROZCO AND MARY OROZCO
Account Review Hearing continued from 03/25/26:
On 03/25/26 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 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 Executor and Executor’s counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000455 ESTATE OF MELISSA ANN ZEPEDA
Account Review Hearing:
A Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing 09/16/26.
Hearing of 09/16/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000660 ESTATE OF JUE HUAI CHANG 
Inventory Review Hearing continued from 04/02/26:
Final Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 02/04/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000965 ESTATE OF FRANCIS EARL ESPINOZA
Inventory Review Hearing:
Letters issued 03/12/26. Inventory and Appraisal due 07/13/26.
Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file.
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Appearance by Personal Representative and counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001333 ESTATE OF JAMES MITCHELL MIKKELSON
Inventory Review Hearing:
Letters issued 02/05/26. Inventory and Appraisal due 06/05/26.
Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file.
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Appearance by Personal Representative and counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001341 ESTATE OF BARBARA HELEN PETERSON, AKA BARBARA H. PETERSON, BARBARA PETERSON
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 04/06/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001354 ESTATE OF PAMELA C. SANDERS, AKA PAMELA CAROL SANDERS
Inventory Review Hearing:
Final Inventory and Appraisal on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 04/06/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001359 ESTATE OF ARNOLD S. FRIED, AKA ARNOLD STEPHEN FRIED
Inventory Review Hearing:
Letters issued 03/03/26. Inventory and Appraisal due 07/06/26.
Partial No. 1 I&A filed 07/28/26.
Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file.
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Appearance by Administrator (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-001095 ESTATE OF ROSA LINDA FELICIANO
Hearing on First and Final Report and Account of Administrators; for Allowance of Statutory Attorney’s Fees and Administrator’s Fees; and for Final Distribution:
• Paragraph 7 of the Report does not appear sufficiently detailed pursuant to PrC§9202(b) (knowledge of personal representative or estate attorney).
• Summary of Account is not labeled as such.
• Summary of Account omitted the period covered by the account [PrC§1061(a)].
• Please include an actual Schedule of Gains on Sale, as the calculation contained within the Summary of Account (which was not labeled) appears incorrect. The alleged sales price is less than the appraisal value, which would appear to result in a loss, not a gain. 
• Please provide copies of supporting documentation regarding the Administrators’ requests for reimbursement for payments that were not clearly administrative expenses. (Examples of administrative expenses from the Exhibits are bond premiums, notary fees, attorney’s retainer, tax filing fee. Examples of reimbursements which require documentation: mortgage payments, utility payments, home repair costs, garbage or dump fees, vehicle registration fees.) Supporting documentation could include invoices noted as paid, receipts, mortgage statements, or as a last resort – copies of financial account statements with all but the last four digits of the account number redacted purs. to California Rule of Court.
      o    Funeral expenses were included. Funeral expenses would appear to fall under PrC§9000 (creditor’s claims), and pursuant to PrC9252, Administrator’s creditor’s claim was not submitted to the court for allowance or rejection. Please provide supporting documentation.
• Proposed Order not yet submitted.
Recommend continuance to 10/20/26, to coincide with Account Review Hearing already set, to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-25-000345 ESTATE OF DORSENA M. TIPTON
Hearing on PrC§12200 Status Report of Administration:
•    Review of the file reflects that the personal representative filed a Creditor’s Claim, Form DE-172, but has not yet submitted a proposed Allowance or Rejection of Creditor’s Claim, Form DE-174, for the court to review and sign. Until and unless the court approves the Claim, the personal representative does not have authority to satisfy his own claim.
Notice appears complete.
Recommend court allow estate to remain open and set a further Account Review Hearing 02/04/27.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001101 MATTER OF MATTHEW EOFF, OR MATTER OF DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY OF RUFUS SANTOS, PRINCIPAL
1.    Hearing on Motion for Sanctions Against Respondent’s Counsel:
SEE TENTATIVE RULING, to be posted day prior to hearing at https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings/…

2.    Hearing on Second Amended Petition (file-marked 06/03/26) to Invalidate and Revoke Power of Attorney; for Elder Abuse, Neglect, Isolation, Financial Elder Abuse, and Related Relief continued from 12/04/25, 03/19/26, 07/23/26:
This second amended petition was filed more than six months after the first amended petition; multiple pleadings (objections, answers, replies) were filed after the first amended petition and have been superseded by this filing. Submit to court whether to strike second amended petition for being filed without leave of the court.
• Notice of Hearing (Form DE-120) file-marked 07/20/26 is defective:
      o    Untimely. See Probate Code sections 4544, 1220, 1214, and California Rules of Court starting with rule 7.50.
      o    Notice of Hearing item 1 on page 1 does not contain the complete caption (title) of the pleading. See California Rules of Court rule 7.102, 7.50.

Request for Judicial Notice file-marked 01/14/26. Submitted to court for determination.
Appearance by petitioner and objector (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001234 ESTATE OF CLARE MORAN, AKA CLARE DUNN MORAN
Hearing on Petition for Settlement of First and Final Account and Final Distribution, Waiver of Accounting, Waiver of Compensation to Executors, Allowance of Compensation to Attorney and Allowance of Costs to Attorney:
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 02/25/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-26-000606 R.L. BAPTISTA TRUST DTD AUGUST 9, 2018
Hearing on Petition for Order Confirming Trust Assets, Correcting Legal Description, and Quieting Title:
REVIEW IN PROGRESS. PLEASE CHECK BACK.

PR-26-000688 ESTATE OF DAVID E. PFANENSTIEL
Hearing on Petition to Determine Succession to Primary Residence:
If no one appears to object, recommend court find notice complete and approve the petition.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000695 ESTATE OF KATHERINE WEISS STANLEY
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
• Petitioner/proposed administrator identified themselves as a creditor the estate; petitioner would therefore have less priority to serve than the Public Administrator. Recommend court require the petitioner to serve mailed notice purs. to PrC§8110 et seq. on the Public Administrator and County Counsel.
      o    Proof of service filed 07/29/26 reflects copies of the petition and notice were mailed to County Counsel and the Public Administrator on 07/29/26.
• Two individuals (also the only two heirs-at-law purs. PrC§6401) named in item 8 are alleged to have survived decedent but since passed away. The successors-in-interest of those individuals are not clearly identified, nor the personal representatives of those individuals’ estates. See Local Rule 8.14 A and California Rules of Court rule 7.51.
      o    After hearing from counsel, submit to court whether to require the petitioner to conduct an heir search.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000696 ESTATE OF DAVID ABRAHAM SAYAD
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary:

The following defects must be addressed in the Petition (DE-111):
•    The petition appears to be an incorrect version of this form.  The revision date recited on the bottom of the form (07/01/2017) agrees with the current version; however, some of the preprinted verbiage on the form (particularly the caption) does not agree with the latest version of this form provided on the Judicial Council’s website and appears to have been modified.
•    Item 2d(2) was left blank (bond amount). 
•    Item 3c did not establish that this court is the proper venue for this matter as it reflects an address outside of the United States; specifically: Australia. The petition does not allege property in Stanislaus County.  Please see Probate Code section 7051 and a California Decedent’s Estate Practice Guide. Please supplement or amend the petition to provide sufficient evidence for the court to establish jurisdictional facts purs. to PrC§§8005-6. See California Rules of Court rules 7.3 and 7.53.
•    Item 8 omitted dates of death of all deceased persons listed.
•    Item 8 included second generation heirs but not the deceased ancestor through which they take (please see Local Rule 8.26 E).
    o    A Family Tree may be helpful.
•    Item 8 did not properly label the proposed personal representative (Local Rule 8.26 D).
•    Proposed personal representative resides outside of the United States. 
•    Item 8 reflects that one of the heirs is a minor. A Guardian ad Litem may be necessary. Will be submitted to Judge for determination.
•    Attachment 2a alleges that the Will was proved in another country.  Attachment 3f(2) indicates a copy of the Will and Order Admitting Will to Probate in Australia are attached to Petition. PrC §12521(a), a petition shall include both (1) The will or authenticated copy of the Will. (2) an authenticated copy of the Order admitting the will (one that satisfies the requirements of Article 2 evidence code 1530. The order admitting the Will appears to be omitted.

The following defects must be addressed in the Court’s file.
•    Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate not on file.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
•    Form DE-140, Proposed Order, not yet submitted.
•    Form DE-150, Letters, not yet submitted.
•    It appears the original Will has not yet been presented in person to the Clerk’s Office for filing.  Original Wills are not accepted via E-file.  See Local Rule 1.14G and the Court’s website:  www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/e-filing.
    o    Declaration re: supporting evidence not on file. See PrC§§8221, 6110. 
Recommend continuance to 10/21/26 pursuant to request from petition and his counsel to allow time to cure defects. 
Appearance not required. (Anyone wishing to appear may do so either in person or remotely, by telephone, using VCourt)
 

PR-26-000703 ESTATE OF RONDA GENE HALL, AKA RONDA G. HALL
Hearing on Spousal Property Petition:
Notes have been cured.
Recommend approval of petition, if no one appears to object.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

ADD-ON:
PR-26-000787 MATTER OF JAMES G. HORNER AND DIANE G. HORNER REVOCABLE TRUST
Reserved Hearing on Ex Parte Petition (set by email from the courtroom clerk):
Moving documents not yet on file.

9:30 A.M.

PR-25-000508 TRAMMELL 1998 TRUST DTD JUNE 11, 1998, AS AMENDED – THE BYPASS TRUST
Court Trial - Day 3 continued from 05/19/26, 06/23/26, 06/24/26:
Appearances mandatory.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2026
Department 23
8:30 a.m.

PR-26-000740 ESTATE OF DEREK ANTONIO, AKA DEREK MARTINS
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
Requested bond of $345,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate alleged in the petition.
•    Three of the heirs are minors. A Guardian ad Litem may be necessary. Submitted to Judge for determination.
•    Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate not yet on file.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
•    Form DE-140, Proposed Order, not yet submitted.
•    Form DE-150, Letters, omitted the “place” of execution.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

Department 22
8:30 a.m.

2200062 ESTATE OF MARY RUBY ANDRUS, AKA MARY R. ANDRUS, MARY ANDRUS
Account Review Hearing continued from 03/18/26:
A Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing 09/02/26.
Hearing of 09/02/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-000556 ESTATE OF RAUL ZEPEDA, JR.
(1)    Order to Show Cause issued on 04/02/26 to William Broderick-Villa, Esq.:
To appear and show cause why the Court should not impose sanctions for the failure to file the Inventory and Appraisal. Mr. Broderick-Villa is also to show cause why the Court should not issue a possible surcharge for failure to perfect notice. If the I&A is filed, and notice is perfected prior to the next hearing, the Order to Show Cause will be discharged.

(2)    Hearing on Second PrC§12200 Status Report continued from 01/14/26, 04/02/26: 
Nothing filed since last hearing. Prior notes remain:
•    Notice of Hearing not on file at time of review.
•    Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file. Examiner notes status report indicates the sole asset of the estate is a Vangaard account. 
On 01/14/26, the court directed notice of hearing to be filed prior to the next hearing or possible surcharge may be ordered.
Recommend court issue an Order to Show Cause to personal representative and counsel to be personally present to receive the court’s order. 
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Recommend court issue Order to Show Cause to Administrator and Administrator’s counsel to be personally present pursuant to PrC§12202:
•    To show condition of estate and why estate cannot be distributed and closed;
•    So that court may order Administrator to prepare and file a First Account Current at the court’s discretion pursuant to PrC§12202(b).
•    Noncompliance may result in removal of personal representative from office (PrC§§12204, 8500).
Appearance by Personal Representative and counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-001010 ESTATE OF LINDA LEE WATT
(1)    Order to Show Cause issued on 04/02/26 to Robin Groves:
To appear and show cause as to why court should not impose a surcharge for the failure to appear and failure to file PrC §12200 Status Report.

(2)    Account Review Hearing continued from 04/02/26:
See Local Rule 8.82 and also Probate Code sections 12200, and 9000 through 9399.
On 04/02/26, the court ordered personal representative to file PrC§12200 Status Report within 90 days if the estate is not in a position to be closed.
• 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 issue Order to Show Cause to Administrator 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 Administrator 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).

Please review your responsibilities in the Duties and Liabilities, Form DE-147, you signed and filed.
Appearance by Administrator (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001020 ESTATE OF JOSE MARAVILLA, JR.
Account Review Hearing:
Letters issued 05/09/25. Inventory and Appraisal due 09/09/25.
Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file.
On 11/12/25, the court ordered personal representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal within 90 days.
On 03/05/26, the personal representative presented a signed Inventory and Appraisal by Steven Pallios in open court. The Court directed personal representative to file the I&A.
Recommend court issue an Order to Show Cause to personal representative to be personally present to receive the court’s order. 
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
•    Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report are on file at the time of review.  See Local Rule 8.82. 
Status report is due.
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.
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
Please review your responsibilities in the Duties and Liabilities, Form DE-147, you signed and filed.
Appearance by Administrator (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001027 ESTATE OF BARBARA ANN CRUICKSHANK
Account Review Hearing continued from 03/24/26:
Account Review Hearing will not be continued further.

Hearing on PrC§12200 Status Report of Administration continued from 07/16/26:
Nothing filed since previous hearing. Prior Note remains:
•    Notice of Hearing filed-marked 07/13/26 gave notice of the “Account Review Hearing” (see Local Rule 8.82); a new Notice of Hearing will be required for the Status Report of Administration.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000125 MATTER OF THE TESTAMENTARY TRUST OF JAMES A. HIGGINS
Hearing on Petition for Order for Support of Beneficiary continued from 06/12/25, 07/31/25, 02/03/26:
Nothing filed since previous hearing.
• New rephrasing of this Prior Note: Prior to the trustor’s death, the Trust did not exist, and all property belonging to the decedent belonged to the decedent and not the Trust. What legal mechanism transferred assets into the Trust? It could have been a Final Decree after formal probate, an Order of summary probate purs. to PrC§13150, or a PrC§13100 Affidavit; it could be that the trustor designated the Trustee as “pay-on-death” beneficiary on his accounts. Original Note: Please file a copy of judicial decree that established the testamentary trust, e.g., the Order for Final Distribution filed in the decedent’s estate court proceeding. See CRC rule 7.650. 
      o    A Response to the original Probate Notes was filed 01/29/26, addressing this defect; the response was not signed by the petitioner nor verified.
• Please clarify that this court is the proper venue for this proceeding. Where is the principal place of administration of the trust? See PrC§17005(a)(1).
      o    A Response to the Probate Notes was filed 01/29/26, addressing this defect; the response was not signed by the petitioner nor verified.
• Proposed Order contains findings that do not agree with the petition: see lines 15 through 18, and lines 24 through 27 on page 3 of the order.
      o    A Response to the Probate Notes was filed 01/29/26, addressing this defect; the response was not signed by the petitioner nor verified.
• Proposed Order contains an order that was not included in the prayer of the petition: see lines 12 through 14 on page 4 of the order.

Objection filed 06/11/25 – by U.S. Bank. Objection reflects the Objector/ Respondent/ co-Trustee did not receive notice. 
On 02/03/26, the court directed petitioner to perfect notice on the Objector and any other beneficiaries and address the original two Probate Notes (reproduced above), or the case may be dismissed. Nothing has been filed since that hearing. The petition did not identify those who are due notice of this proceeding.
Recommend dismissal without prejudice. Any future petition by the petitioner must provide the names and addresses of all interested people including trustees, beneficiaries, and contingent beneficiaries. 
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000411 ESTATE OF INEZ DEWESE DAVIS
Inventory Review Hearing:
Letters issued 02/09/26. Inventory and Appraisal due 06/09/26.
Final Inventory and Appraisal not on file.
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Appearance by Personal Representative and counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000547 ESTATE OF SUMICO TAKAHASHI
Inventory Review Hearing continued from 03/05/26:
Prior Notes remain:
•    On 09/05/25, the court ordered the personal representative to perfect notice to the foreign consulate (PrC§8113, see Local Rule 8.16). Not on file.
•    Letters were issued 11/24/25; a Partial No. 1 and Partial No. 2 Inventory and Appraisal on file. Final I&A was due 03/24/26 and is not on file.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000619 ESTATE OF DOLORES CELESTE BELLO, AKA DOLORES BELLO
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration (filed by V. Bello) continued from 12/03/25, 03/25/26:
Proposed bond of $200,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate alleged in the petition.
•    Proposed Letters not yet submitted.
Need status of meet-and-confer.

Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration (filed by M. Baptista) continued from 08/21/25, 12/03/25, 03/25/26:
Proposed bond of $200,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate alleged in the petition. Bond has already been filed.
Need status of meet-and-confer.

Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000926 ESTATE OF WINFRED WAYNE DAVIS SR.
(1)    Order to Show Cause issued on 04/01/26 to Benjamin D. Rowe, Esq.:
To appear and show cause why the court should not issue sanctions for failure to appear on 04/01/26 and failure to file an Inventory and Appraisal and failure to submit Letters.
Order to Show Cause will be discharged pursuant to the court’s minute order dated 04/01/26 as Letters and Inventory is on file.

(2)    Inventory Review Hearing continued 04/01/26:
Letters have been issued.
Inventory and Appraisal on file.
Recommend Account Review Hearing 06/16/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.82.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-25-000214 ESTATE OF KERRY JO WALKER, AKA KERRY J. WALKER, AKA KERRY WALKER
Hearing on First and Final Account and Report of Executor and Petition for Allowance of Compensation to Attorneys and Executor for Ordinary Services, for Reimbursement of Costs Advanced by Attorneys, for Allowance for Trustee to Pay Expenses out of the Trust Corpus, and for Final Distribution:
Recommend approval of petition.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 02/25/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000495 ESTATE OF PETER GLEN SAAD, AKA PETER GLENN SAAD
Hearing on First and Final Report of Executor on Waiver of Accounting and Petition for its Settlement; for Statutory Attorneys’ Fees, for Reimbursement of Costs Advanced and for Final Distribution:
Recommend approval of Report and Petition.
Recommend court vacate Account Review Hearing of 08/18/26.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 02/25/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000530 MANOUCH AZAD REVOCABLE TRUST
Hearing on Respondent Giannelli Law Firm’s Notice of Demurrer to Petitioner’s Petitioner to Determine Validity of Trust Amendments:
SEE TENTATIVE RULING, to be posted day prior to hearing at https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings/…

PR-26-000622 FRANCES B. VAN WINKLE REVOCABLE TRUST U/A/D AUGUST 18, 2020, AND AS RESTATED ON APRIL 11, 2025
Hearing on Petition for Return of Property (PrC §850); for Elder Financial Abuse (WIC §15610.30); for Double Damages (PrC §859); for Determination of Operative Trust Instrument and for Accounting (PrC §17200); and for Attorneys Fees and Costs:
•    Copies of the Petition were not provided with the Notice of Hearing (item 5 on page 2 of the Notice of Hearing). See PrC§851(a).
•    Notice of Hearing (by mail) appears defective and untimely as to Michael Van Winkle: the petition reflects that and he appears to be a person claiming an interest in the property. See PrC§851(a) and CCP§413.10 et seq.
•    Notice to Morgan Stanley not on file.
•    As this petition is filed pursuant to both Probate Code section 850 and section 17200, both forms DE-115, Notice of Hearing on Petition to Determine Claim to Property, and DE-120, Notice of Hearing-Decedent’s Estate or Trust, appear required. See PrC§851 and PrC§17203.
•    Order not yet submitted.
Hearing Required.
Appearance required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000708 ESTATE OF PEGGY ANN DOWNS, AKA PEGGY DOWNS
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed:
Bond waiver on file for intestate heir.
Prior Note has been cured. 
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented and admission of Will to probate.
Recommend Inventory Review Hearing 02/04/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.41 B.
•    Form DE-150, Letters, not yet submitted.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).
 

PR-26-000733 ESTATE OF STEVEN FREDRICK GARCIA SR.
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:

Defects in the Petition, Form DE-111:
•    Petitioner has included an allegation in the petition that decedent died intestate (without a will) and petitioner has included a request that decedent’s will be admitted to probate (item 2a). Those are contradictory.
•    Item 5b box (“was”) was checked, alleging that the decedent was survived by a stepchild or foster child whom decedent would have adopted except for some legal barrier. Please identify the stepchild(ren) and/or foster child(ren) in item 8. Please also file separately or attach to the petition a Declaration pursuant to Probate Code section 6454. The California Probate Code may be searched for online.
•    Item 8 must include the relationships those listed had with the decedent (i.e., child, grandchild). If any grandchildren are included, item 8 must identify their deceased parent through whom they inherit (i.e. the deceased child of the decedent who is the grandchild’s parent). See Local Rule 8.26. 
•    Item 8 must include the deceased heirs, including the late spouse and any deceased children of the decedent, and their dates of death. If the petitioner does not know the exact date of death, please provide the approximate date of death. See Local Rule 8.26.

Defects in the file:
•    Waivers of bond [Form DE-142/DE-111(A-3e)] are not on file for all intestate heirs (see Probate Code section 6401). Bond may be required. Full bond would be $119,933.00, based on the estimate in the petition.
•    Form DE-147 Duties and Liabilities 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-26-000758 ESTATE OF GUADALUPE RUBIO
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
•    Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate not yet on file.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
•    Form DE-140, Proposed Order, not submitted.
•    Form DE-150, Letters, not submitted.
•    Petition seeks no bond, and an order that “any funds” be deposited in a blocked account at Bank of Stockton. The petition alleges personal property estimated at $0.00 and real property estimated at $385,000.00 with a encumbrance $61,000.00. Request will be submitted to court for determination once notice is perfected.
Recommend continuance to 08/28/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

THURSDAY, AUGUST 06, 2026
Department 22
8:30 a.m.

PR-22-001276 ESTATE OF GEORGIANNA MOSS
Inventory Review Hearing continued from 08/20/25, 12/10/25 03/24/26:
Letters issued 01/02/25. Inventory and Appraisal due 04/02/25.
Final Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
Prior notes:
•    Appraisal totals were omitted on page 1. 
•    I&A was not signed by both co-special administrators pursuant to PrC §8852(b).
•    The I&A lists an IRA account.  Did this account designate a pay on death beneficiary? Please explain.
Corrected Inventory and Appraisal not on file.
On 03/24/26, the court directed status report to be filed before next hearing.
Status report(s) not on file. 
Need status.
Appearances required (by VCourt if preferred)

PR-25-000725 MATTER OF MOSS 2001 REVOCABLE TRUST

2.   Hearing on Demurrer:
SEE TENTATIVE RULING, to be posted day prior to hearing at https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings/…

1.    Hearing on Petition for an Order to Recover Real Property Belonging to the Trust and Request for Double Damages and Attorney’s Fees continued from 11/20/25, 03/24/26:
Notice deemed complete on 03/24/26.
Objection filed – 05/12/26, by Aaron Moss, Trustee (proof of service attached).
Joinder to Objection filed – 05/12/26, by Aaron Moss, as an individual. 
•    Joinder was not verified; no proof of service was attached or filed separately.

Appearance by counsel and Aaron Moss (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000169 ESTATE OF EMMA AGNEW
Account Review Hearing continued from 03/26/26:
Account Review Hearing will not be continued further.

Hearing on First Amended First and Final Report of Administrator and Petition for Statutory Fees and Costs and for Final Distribution continued from 06/24/26:
Nothing filed since previous hearing. Prior Notes remain:
•    Line 26 on page 1: The date of death does not agree with the Order for Probate file-marked 12/05/24. If the Report and Petition is incorrect, please see CRC rules 7.3 and 7.53; if the Order for Probate was incorrect, the Administrator must file ex parte for an amended Order for Probate. See Probate Code section 8006(b).
•    The 90-day limitations period recently elapsed for the creditor to file suit on the rejected claim (PrC§§9250, 9353). Please supplement the petition as to the disposition of that claim purs. to PrC§10900b)(3). See also CRC rules 7.3 and 7.53.
•    The proposed distribution is 100% to the estate of the decedent’s sole heir, who passed away in 2020. If probate proceedings have commenced for the heir’s estate, please identify the personal representative of that estate and file a copy of the probate letters (certified if issued from another court). If probate proceedings have not commenced, to whom is the administrator proposing distribution? Prayer paragraph 6 (distribution to the persons entitled) is more vague than the petition paragraph 31 (distribution to the estate of Kathy Stratham).
•    The pleading did not include either an accounting or a waiver of account. No waiver of account is on file from the personal representative of that estate of the deceased sole heir. An Accounting appears required. 
On 06/24/26, the court terminated the Fee Waiver. Need status of payment of court costs.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000593 ESTATE OF VIVIAN ELIZABETH WHEELAND, AKA VIVIAN ELIZABETH PETRA OLSON

Hearing on Order to Show Cause to personal representative issued 11/19/25 and continued from 03/24/26:
To appear and show cause why the court should not impose surcharge, suspend and/or remove the personal representative from office for neglecting this case purs. to PrC§8500.

Account Review Hearing continued from 03/24/26:
Final Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
Prior Notes remain:
On 11/19/25 and again on 03/24/26, the court ordered personal representative to file a PrC§12200 Status Report (with Notice pursuant to PrC§12201) within forty-five (45) days. Not on file.
•    Recommend court suspend the Administrator purs. to PrC§8500 for failure to abide by the court’s orders.
•    Recommend court appoint the Public Administrator as Special Administrator with general powers. Recommend court request the Public Administrator to prepare a Report of the status of this estate and file it with the court before the next hearing, and serve a copy on the interested parties.
•    Recommend continuance of Order to Show Cause to Administrator for surcharge and / or removal from office pursuant to PrC§8500. 
•    At the next hearing, the court may instruct the Public Administrator to seek appointment as successor personal representative of this estate.
Appearance by personal representative (self-represented) mandatory. Anyone appearing at this hearing may do so either in person or by telephone, by VCourt, if preferred.

PR-24-000599 ESTATE OF GEORGETTE ARLENE ALBANO, AKA GEORGETTE A. ALBANO
Hearing on Order to Show Cause issued to personal representative on 04/21/26:
• To appear and show cause for failure to appear on 04/21/26 and for failure to file pleadings as directed.

Account Review Hearing continued from 12/09/25, 04/21/26:
On 12/09/25 the court directed that a PrC§12200 Status Report must be filed if estate is not in a position to be closed. Neither Petition for Final Distribution nor PrC§12200 Status Report are on file.
• Administrator and Administrator’s counsel to appear pursuant to PrC§12202:
      o    To show condition of estate and why estate cannot be distributed and closed;
      o    So that court may order Administrator 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 mandatory (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000241 ESTATE OF BUGS BOUGUERBA
Hearing on Third Amended Spousal Property Petition (file-marked 05/19/26) continued from 04/30/25, 09/04/25, 12/04/25, 03/25/26:
• Petition item 9 did not include the relationships between those listed and the decedent.
• Petition item 10 identifies the petitioner as the executor decedent’s will. The rest of the petition reflects petitioner’s allegation that the decedent died intestate (without a will). Please clarify.
• Petition item 12 was not completed (alleging whether there is or has not been a petition for probate of the decedent’s estate filed).
• Proposed Order, Form DE-226:
      o    Item 5a was checked, which does not agree with what the petition asked for.
      o    Item 8 was checked, which does not agree with what the petition asked for.
      o    Item 9 was completed, which is duplicative since item 7a was already checked.
      o    Attachments 7a were not attached: the list of property which will be confirmed as belonging to the petitioner. See the document you attached to the petition as Attachment 7b “Real Property Descriptions and Title Vesting”.
Attached to the petition are four grant deeds, each of which reflects that the properties are held in either joint tenancy or as “community property with rights of survivorship”.
Recommend court enquire of petitioner if she has attempted to record three (3) Affidavits of Death of Joint Tenants and one (1) Affidavit of Death of Spouse - Community Property.
Appearance by petitioner (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000459 MATTER OF OLDSON FAMILY TRUST
Hearing on Petition for 1. Internal Affairs of a Trust and Contest of Accounting; 2. Breach of Fiduciary Duties by Former Trustee; 3. Surcharge of Former Trustee; 4. Elder Financial Abuse; 5. Attorney’s Fees continued from 09/04/25, 11/18/25:
Nothing filed since previous hearing. Prior Note remains: Body of Petition omitted the names and mailing addresses of those entitled to notice (PrC§§17201, 15804).
•    Recommend court set date certain for this defect to be cured or the case may be dismissed.
Proposed Order omitted necessary findings purs. to WIC§15610.30 and PrC§859. 
Objection filed – 03/19/26, by Respondent, W. Oldson.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000718 ESTATE OF SANDRA J. ARNETT
Inventory Review Hearing continued from 04/21/26:
Inventory and Appraisal is on file.
Petition for Final Distribution has been filed and set for hearing on 09/23/26.
Hearing of 09/23/26 will be confirmed.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000818 ESTATE OF MARY LOU LEE
Inventory Review Hearing continued from 04/14/26:
Letters Issued 10/08/25.  Inventory and Appraisal due 02/08/26.
Inventory and Appraisal not on file at time of review.
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Appearance by Personal Representative and counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-000956 ESTATE OF JAMES COWAN
Inventory Review Hearing continued from 04/14/26:
Letters Issued 02/19/26. Inventory and Appraisal due 06/19/26.
Inventory and Appraisal not on file at time of review.
Recommend court compel Personal Representative to file the Final Inventory and Appraisal pursuant to Probate Code § 8804 or face possible sanctions including removal from office.
Appearance by Personal Representative and counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-001294 ESTATE OF MARY ELLA COHEN ESTATE OF MARY ELLA COHEN
Hearing on PrC§12200 Status Report of Administration reset by Minute Order issued 06/17/26:
• This report (file-marked 06/15/26) was not verified by the personal representative. The Report was also filed earlier than was strictly necessary pursuant to Local Rule 8.82 and Probate Code section 12200.
      o    Instead of correcting this defect in this Report, the personal representative filed another PrC§12200 Status Report, which has been set for hearing on 09/22/26. The personal representative cannot replace or supersede one pleading by filing another with the exact same title. Please see California Rules of Court rules 7.3, 7.53, and 7.102.
• Notice of Hearing file-marked 07/09/26 appears defective: language omitted pursuant to PrC§12201(b). See the box halfway down page 1 of Form DE-120, between items 1 and 2.
Declaration in Response to Status Report – filed 06/17/26, by intestate heir and Trustee of the “Frank L. Cohen Revocable Living Trust”, A. Broughton. The Declaration does not constitute a noticed petition asking for the court to take any action. 
Recommend court drop today’s hearing for lack of proper notice.
Recommend court confirm the hearing of 09/22/26 on the second PrC§12200 Status Report.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-23-001293 ESTATE OF FRANK LANCE COHEN
Hearing on PrC§12200 Status Report of Administration: 
• This report (file-marked 06/15/26) was not verified by the personal representative. The Report was also filed earlier than was strictly necessary pursuant to Local Rule 8.82 and Probate Code section 12200.
      o    Instead of correcting this defect in this Report, the personal representative filed another PrC§12200 Status Report, which has been set for hearing on 09/23/26.
• Notice of Hearing file-marked 07/09/26 appears defective: language omitted pursuant to PrC§12201(b). See the box halfway down page 1 of Form DE-120, between items 1 and 2.
      o    Another Notice of Hearing was filed, on 07/27/26, giving notice of a hearing on (per item 1 on the form) “[corrected] Status Report; (final and corrected] Inventory and Appraisal”. This NOH contains the same defect as the earlier NOH (see Note above). Also, there is no such document as a “[corrected] Status Report”; the personal representative filed one PrC§12200 Status Report on 06/15/26 and filed another one on 07/27/26, the latter was set for hearing on 09/23/26. Both Reports are titled exactly the same. The titles of probate pleadings matter. Please see California Rules of Court rules 7.3, 7.53, and 7.102. The personal representative cannot replace or supersede one pleading by filing another with the exact same title.
Declaration in Response to Status Report – filed 06/17/26, by intestate heir and Trustee of the “Frank L. Cohen Revocable Living Trust”, A. Broughton. The Declaration does not constitute a noticed petition asking for the court to take any action. 
Recommend court drop today’s hearing for lack of proper notice.
Recommend court confirm the hearing of 09/23/26 on the second PrC§12200 Status Report.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001137 ESTATE OF LESLIE DAWN BATTLES
Hearing on First and Final Report of Administrators on Waiver of Account and Petition for its Settlement; Petition for Allowance for Statutory Compensation for Ordinary and Extraordinary Services by the Attorney; for Reimbursement of Costs Advanced and for Final Distribution of Estate:
Recommend approval of Report and Petition.
Need new proposed Order including finding regarding notice purs. to PrC§1260.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 02/25/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-25-001044 ESTATE OF DANIEL ABELINO LAND-ARELLANO, AKA DANIEL A. ARELLANO
Hearing on Ex Parte Final Report of Administrator on Waiver of Account and Petition for its Settlement, for Allowance of Compensation to the Attorney for Ordinary Services, for Reimbursement of Costs Advanced and for Final Distribution:
Examiner notes the caption of this pleading is entitled “Ex Parte”; however, it does not appear to have been submitted Ex Parte as it has been set for hearing by the clerk’s office. Per LR 8.35B, this court will accept Petition for Final Distribution via Ex Parte but only if it includes a showing of exigent circumstances purs. CRC 3.1202(c).  This petition did not appear to meet that requirement; thus, notice is required.
•    Notice of Hearing not on file.
•    Waivers of Accounting must be filed separately (PrC§10954).
•    Paragraph 24 references costs of the estate as described in Exhibit B; however, Exhibit B (Itemization of costs of administration) was omitted. See Local Rules 8.69, 8.83K.
•    Schedule of Proposed Distribution not included, which is required even when accounting is waived. See Local Rules 8.69 and 8.83M.
Recommend continuance to 09/15/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000623 MATTER OF SANDRA LASWELL LIVING TRUST
Hearing on Petition to Compel Trustee; for Accounting; for Removal of Trustee; for the Return of Property; for Breach of Fiduciary Duty; for Elder or Dependent Financial Abuse; for Wrongful Taking; and for Attorneys Fees and Costs:

Notice issues:
Recommend court require petitioner to give notice to the estate of intestate heir EVELYN GOINS (survived Trustor but is now deceased), and the Trustee of the “Evelyn Goins Survivor’s Trust A” (paragraphs 24 and 25), as the petition includes allegations regarding estate accounts that may have been held jointly by decedent/Trustor and Evelyn Goins, or that may have named Evelyn Goins as pay-on-death beneficiary.
• Notice of Hearing not on file for Respondent J. Hollenback.
• Notice of Hearing appears defective on Respondent, K. Hollenbeck:
      o    Ought to be served twice in her separate capacities as an individual and as Trustee.
      o    Was served by mail. See PrC§851(a) and CCP§413.10 et seq.

Probate Notes regarding petition:
• The Petition did not include the names/addresses of the following individuals as being due notice purs. to PrC§17201:
      o    Respondent, J. Hollenback;
      o    The estate of deceased intestate heir (and possible account holder or pay-on-death beneficiary), E. Goins;
      o    The Trustee of the “Evelyn Goins Survivor’s Trust A”, alleged to be C.  Beck.
• Please elaborate on paragraph 47 and 48 (allegations regarding Respondent J. Hollenback):
      o    When were the checks allegedly signed? 
      o    To whom were the checks written and for what amount(s)?
      o    In what way did Respondent/Trustee benefit?
• Please elaborate on allegations re: elder or dependent financial abuse of E. Goins:
      o    What assets belonged to E. Goins?
      o    How did the Respondents interfere with assets belonging to E. Goins?
• Prayer paragraph 1 requests the court require an account beginning 01/25/24 while the body of the petition (paragraph 45) seeks an account beginning 01/15/25.
• Exhibit A (restated Trust) appears to be missing pages 3-1 and 3-2 (containing sections 3.01 through 3.05). 
      o    Those pages appear to include terms regarding the successor trustees; Examiner cannot determine if the Trust said anything about a bond being necessary for the alternate successor Trustee.
• Exhibit C (letter dated 03/07/25 from Trustee’s counsel): page 1 is not legible. Please provide a clean and legible copy.
• Exhibit F is not identified, described, or referenced as being attached within the body of the petition.

Please provide points and authorities regarding: 
• Petitioner’s request for court order that Respondent K. Hollenback, in her capacity as either Trustee or as an individual, account for financial accounts which petitioner alleges are not assets of the Trust, and which may have had either joint account-holders or pay-on-death beneficiaries. 
      o    What is petitioner’s “interest” in the intestate estate of decedent, Sandra Laswell, to seek, as an “interested person” return of property belonging to the intestate estate of decedent purs. to PrC§§850, 48? Petitioner does not appear to be an intestate heir.
      o    What authority does the court have, purs. to PrC§850, to compel the Respondent in either capacity, to account for property that does not belong to either the Trust nor the decedent’s estate (since they are alleged to be accounts with either a joint account-holder or designated pay-on-death beneficiaries)?
• Petitioner’s standing to request that the Respondents be ordered to return property pursuant to PrC§850 belonging to the Trustor’s deceased mother, E. Goins (see petition paragraph 54). 
• Petitioner’s request for court finding re: wrongful taking purs. to WIC§15610.30 as to the Trustor’s deceased mother, E. Goins (see paragraph 55). What is petitioner’s standing to make such a request on behalf of E. Goins?

Hearing required, for court to consider recommendation regarding additional entities/individuals to be given notice.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000713 ESTATE OF JONATHAN GRIFFITH
Hearing on Spousal Property Petition:
• Petition item 5a(2) was left blank (existence of issue of a predeceased child).
• Petition item 5b was left blank (existence of stepchild or foster child who would have been adopted but for a legal barrier).
• Related items 1b and 7b do not agree. Item 1b is petitioner’s request for a court order confirming property belonging to the surviving spouse, but item 7b, identify the property belonging to the surviving spouse, was not checked.
      o    Attachment 7b was omitted.
• Three of the decedent’s four children identified in item 9 are described as minors; Guardian ad Litem will be required for acceptance of Notice of Hearing on behalf of minors. See Local Rule 8.07.
• Item 10 was completed, identifying the executor named in decedent’s will. The rest of the petition reflects petitioner’s allegation that the decedent died intestate (without a will). Please clarify.
• Attachment 7 was omitted. See Local Rule 8.98.
• Attachment 7a: please more particularly describe the type of account, not only the name of the financial institution and the account number.
• Did decedent designate a pay-on-death beneficiary of the account identified in Attachment 7a?
• If one or more assets at issue are real property, petitioner must attach a copy of the most recent recorded deed showing current title. See Local Rule 8.98 B.
• Notice of Hearing not on file (PrC§§13655, 1220).
• Proposed Order not yet submitted.
Recommend continuance to 11/12/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000714 ESTATE OF MAVERICK LAMOUR ARMSTRONG
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:
•    Petition item 8 did not properly label the proposed personal representative (Local Rule 8.26 D).
•    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. Minimum bond would be $20,000.00 pursuant to Local Rule 8.33. Maximum bond would be $301,000.00.
•    Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate not on file.
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
•    Form DE-150, Letters, not submitted.
Recommend continuance to 09/15/26 to allow time to cure defects.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000715 ESTATE OF PATRICK VERNON SMITH
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary:

Defects in the Petition, Form DE-111:
• Heading of page 1 did not include a checkmark in box “Authorization to Administer Under the Independent Administration of Estates Act”.
• Item 3c was left blank (the street address, city, and county of decedent’s residence when he died).
• Item 3h was left blank (proposed personal representative’s residency).
• Item 4 was left blank (stating that the decedent’s will does not preclude administration under the Independent Administration of Estates Act).
• Item 5a(3) or (4) was left blank (existence of registered domestic partner).
• Item 5a(3) or (4) was left blank (existence of issue of a predeceased child).
• Item 8 must include names as they are spelled in the Will; petitioner may include aliases (AKA’s) to identify the correct individuals.

Defects in the file:
• Need Amended Duties and Liabilities, Form DE-147: telephone number omitted from item 2 on page 2.
• Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate not on file.
• Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
• Form DE-150, Proposed Letters, not submitted.
• Will is not self-proving per Local Rule 8.23.  Proof of Subscribing Witness (Form DE-131) not on file.
• Two specific devisees of decedent’s will are identified in the petition as being minors; the Waivers of Bond on file from these two devisees appear to have been signed by the Petitioner.
      o    A Guardian ad litem would appear necessary in order for the court to consider not requiring a bond from the proposed personal representative, as the petitioner lacks standing to waive bond on the children’s behalf. Please see Local Rule 8.07.

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-26-000725 ESTATE OF ANTOINETTE DYAMOND RICHARDSON
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration:

Defects in the Petition, Form DE-111:
• Heading of page 1 did not include a checkmark in box “Authorization to Administer Under the Independent Administration of Estates Act”.
• Item 1 does not name the newspaper where the petitioner intends to publish notice.
• Item 2b does not include the name of the proposed Administrator.
• Item 2c was left blank (whether the petitioner seeks full or limited authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.
• Item 5a(3) or (4) was left blank (existence of registered domestic partner).
• Item 5a(3) or (4) was left blank (existence of issue of a predeceased child).
• Item 8 must include the relationships of all those listed to the decedent.
• Item 8 does not include any one other than the petitioner, although item 5a reflects that the decedent was survived by at least one child.

Defects in the file:
• Need Amended Duties and Liabilities, Form DE-147: telephone number omitted from item 2 on page 2.
• Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
• Forms DE-140 and DE-150, Proposed Order and Letters, not submitted.
• Form DE-121, Notice of Petition, file-marked 07/09/26 contains the following defects:
      o    Item 4 was checked, even though the petition reflects that the decedent died without a will.
      o    Item 10 is missing petitioner’s name.
      o    The only person given notice was the petitioner herself, even though the petition item 5a indicates the decedent was survived by at least one child and perhaps more.

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).

FRIDAY, AUGUST 07, 2026
Department 22
8:30 a.m.

445167 MATTER OF RAYMOND GERALD COCHRAN LIVING TRUST DATED 06/27/07; INCLUDING THE SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST FOR TERRI LYNN COCHRAN
Hearing on Sixth Annual Account and Petition for Allowance of Attorney’s Fees, for Reimbursement of Costs Advanced by Attorney continued from 02/03/26, 06/11/26:

All receipts have been reviewed by the Examiner. The court on 06/11/26 gave instruction re: reimbursement of mileage and disbursements for vacations. 

1.    Petitioner asked the court to take judicial notice of a Declaration filed in 2024, which supplemented the Fifth Account Current, as a means of curing a Probate Note for this, the Sixth Account Current. 
Recommend denial of the request for judicial notice. 
Recommend court affirm that each accounting and report thereon must independently contain an explanation of unusual circumstances purs. to PrC§1064(a)(2), and that therefore, in every accounting, the Trustee will need to explain the relationships of payees when there are frequent disbursements to the same individuals reflected in the Schedules. In every accounting when there are distributions that are not obviously for the benefit of the beneficiary (such as gifts to others, meals purchased for others, stipends paid to others), the Trustee will be expected to show that the distributions did not reduce or eliminate the beneficiary’s eligibility for public benefits, or, in the alternative, if the distributions would or did reduce/eliminate the beneficiary’s eligibility, that the distributions were in the beneficiary's best interest and Trustee acted in good faith. (McGee v. State Dep't of Health Care Services (2023) 91 Cal.App.5th 1161, 1174–1176.) 
2.    The review of this accounting had to include the review of hundreds of receipts offered by the Trustee for reimbursements to herself and to third parties (such as the conservator) because of the Trustee’s practice of using her own funds, or the funds of others, to purchase goods and services for the benefit of the beneficiary, and then later reimbursing herself or the third parties from the Trust funds. Such reimbursements require meticulous record-keeping and the production of receipts at the time of the accounting. Where feasible, it is better to pay vendors directly from the Trust. Recommend court offer Trustee guidance on this practice, as she will have to provide receipts for all future reimbursements.

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

PR-24-000325 ESTATE OF SOCORRO GARZA, AKA SOCORRO G. GARZA
Hearing on First and Final Report on Waivers of Account and Petition for its Approval; Petition for Order of Final Distribution; and for Allowance of Payment of Statutory Fees; and Reimbursement of Costs Advanced continued from 05/20/26:
•    Prior Notes have been addressed.
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented by counsel’s Declaration file-marked 07/28/26.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 02/25/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-000898 ESTATE OF GEORGIA RUTH GAMA
Court’s Motion to Dismiss set per Minute Order 07/13/26:
Settlement not on file.
Need status of settlement.
Appearance by counsel required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001128 ESTATE OF SARENA SUE GAWTHORP
Hearing on Waiver of Account, Report of Administrator, Petition for Allowance of Statutory Fees to Personal Representative, and Attorney and for Final Distribution continued from 05/14/26, 06/05/26:
Prior defects cured.
• Need new order.  Proposed order submitted 03/16/26:
      o    Reflects an appearance was made. An appearance will not be required. 
      o    Distribution amounts (including compensation and costs) do not match the Supplemental Declaration filed.
Recommend approval of Petition and Account as supplemented.
Recommend Discharge Review Hearing 02/25/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.92.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-24-001150 ESTATE OF BEVERLY ANN SARABIA
(1)    Hearing on Petition for the Termination of Further Proceedings and for Discharge of the Personal Representative and for an Order (PrC §12251) continued from 07/07/26:
Prior defects cured.
Notice appears appropriate.
If no one appears to object, Recommend approval of Petition as supplemented.
Recommend court discharge Personal Representative and close the estate.
• Need new order. Proposed Order submitted 05/07/26:
      o    Omitted a statement of the Court’s finding regarding notice [see PrC§1260].  Please note, the court’s finding that notice is complete should not appear under language “Petitioner alleges” or “It is so ordered”. 
      o    When resubmitting a new proposed order, please ensure today’s hearing date is reflected on the order.

(2)    Inventory Review Hearing continued from 07/15/26:
Recommend court drop this hearing as moot.

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 continued from 07/07/26:
Nothing filed since previous hearing. Prior Note remains:
•    Affidavit of publication not on file. See Local Rule 8.12.
Appearance by petitioner (self-represented) required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000464 ESTATE OF JON F. CHRISTIANSEN, AKA JON CHRISTIANSEN
Hearing on Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed continued from 07/21/26:
Will is not self-proving. Proof of Subscribing Witness (Form DE-131) are on file. 
Some prior defects cured. One remains:
•    Proposed Letters, Form DE-150, not yet submitted
Requested bond of $480,000.00 appears adequate based on estimated value of estate alleged in the petition.
Recommend approval of petition as supplemented.  
Recommend Inventory Review Hearing 02/09/27 pursuant to Local Rule 8.41 B.
Appearance not required (by VCourt if preferred).

PR-26-000536 ESTATE OF DAVID JOHN PAULUK
Hearing on Petition for Letters of Administration continued from 07/14/26:
Waiver of Bond on file for all intestate heirs.
• Form DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate appears defective:  
      o    Notice of Petition to Administer Estate reflects an incorrect court address; thus, new notice will be required.  Please note the correct address for the Court is: 801 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
      o    Item 2 reflects incorrect county. 
Prior Note:
• The Affidavits of publication file-marked 07/07/26 and 07/13/26 both reflect that notice of this hearing was published only twice. Pursuant to Probate Code sections 8120 through 8125, three publications are required.
      o    Affidavit of publication file marked 07/31/26 reflects that notice was inserted in three publications (07/17/26, 07/24/26, and 07/31/26); however, publication is defective: reflects that the notice published reflecting the prior hearing date of 07/14/26 rather than today’s hearing which means that publication was effectuated on dates after the hearing instead of before the hearing date.  
      o    Republication will be required.
Recommend continuance to 09/18/26 to allow time to perfect notice.
Appearance not required (anyone appearing may do so either in person, or remotely, by telephone, using VCourt). 

MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026

No decedent's estates, or trust matters on calendar