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 NOVEMBER 4, 2025
Stanislaus County Superior Court is now recruiting for a full-time Research Attorney. Final filing date is December 3, 2025. To view the job announcement please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/scstanct

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, DECEMBER 19, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent’s estates or trusts on calendar

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025
COURT HOLIDAY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2025
COURT HOLIDAY

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

THURSDAY, JANUARY 01, 2025
COURT HOLIDAY

FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2025
Department 22 
There are no decedent's estates or trusts on calendar

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

Department 23
9:00 a.m.

2200623 MATTER OF ERICH HOFMANN TESTAMENTARY TRUST 
Case Management Conference:
Appearance required (by VCourt if preferred).

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