Tuolumne — Probate Notes for May 22, 2026

Source: https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/pb_d5_05222026.pdf

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

1 PR12614 Estate of Daniel James Titchenal 03/11/2025

Kimberley Wren Attorney: Byron Hales

Review Hearing - Report - Probate Code 12200

03/11/2025 Petition File Tracking 03/17/2025 High Density

Probate Notes are not tentative rulings. Parties and counsel are expected to appear for the hearings unless this note indicates that “no appearance is necessary.”
Unless a personal appearance is required, all participants may appear via Zoom without first securing Court permission using this link:
https://tuolumne-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1615813960?pwd=NTRMT0NwMDg5cnlYdzZ6VnBXWWFsUT09. [Meeting ID: 161 581 3960; Passcode: 123456].
All matters set for hearing in Department 5 are presumptively assigned to that department for all purposes. Parties retain the right under Cal. Const. art VI §21 to
decline consent to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem. By participating in the first hearing, or electing not to attend after due notice thereof, parties
are deemed to have stipulated to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem for the entire case. See CRC 2.816.

No appearance is necessary.

The Court, having received and reviewed the TUO-PR-125, intends to find by a preponderance of the evidence that good cause exists to extend the period of administration in this matter. A §12200 review hearing will be set for 09/18/2026 @ 8:30 a.m. Petitioner to give notice.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

2 PR12742 Estate of Donna Proulx 01/14/2026

Tianne Proulx Attorney: Jason Pink

Donna Proulx

Letters of Administration

FURTHER

01/14/2026 Petition File Tracking 03/18/2026 High Density

Probate Notes are not tentative rulings. Parties and counsel are expected to appear for the hearings unless this note indicates that “no appearance is necessary.” Unless a personal appearance is required, all participants may appear via Zoom without first securing Court permission using this link: https://tuolumne-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1615813960?pwd=NTRMT0NwMDg5cnlYdzZ6VnBXWWFsUT09. [Meeting ID: 161 581 3960; Passcode: 123456]. All matters set for hearing in Department 5 are presumptively assigned to that department for all purposes. Parties retain the right under Cal. Const. art VI §21 to decline consent to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem. By participating in the first hearing, or electing not to attend after due notice thereof, parties are deemed to have stipulated to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem for the entire case. See CRC 2.816.

This is the continued hearing on a petition to issue letters of administration for an intestate estate. The petition identifies three likely intestate heirs: the petitioner, and two apparent siblings. The fact that petitioner is offering to provide a bond for a modest intestate estate to be split amongst siblings raises some question as to why the siblings did not agree to waive bond to avoid that expense. Petitioner does not have nominations from her siblings, and while she is not required to have those, the absence of a nomination or bond waiver raises the specter of conflict.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

3 PR12470 Estate of Sandra Leigh Burman 05/15/2024

Augustin Eugene Burman-Alston Attorney: Lily Harris

Sandra Leigh Burman

State of California Franchise Tax
Board
Final Distribution Hearing

FURTHER

05/15/2024 Petition File Tracking 12/10/2024 High Density

Probate Notes are not tentative rulings. Parties and counsel are expected to appear for the hearings unless this note indicates that “no appearance is necessary.” Unless a personal appearance is required, all participants may appear via Zoom without first securing Court permission using this link: https://tuolumne-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1615813960?pwd=NTRMT0NwMDg5cnlYdzZ6VnBXWWFsUT09. [Meeting ID: 161 581 3960; Passcode: 123456]. All matters set for hearing in Department 5 are presumptively assigned to that department for all purposes. Parties retain the right under Cal. Const. art VI §21 to decline consent to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem. By participating in the first hearing, or electing not to attend after due notice thereof, parties are deemed to have stipulated to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem for the entire case. See CRC 2.816.

From the earlier hearing, the only issue was the statutory fee basis. As a reminder:

Between the original and reappraised DE-160, the estate was valued at $198,669.68. However, the distribution only references the real property, the $500 Chevy, the 1973 Honda worth $375, and the 1981 Honda also worth $375. There is no reference to the following assets: $1,500 (Subaru); $900 (Honda Shadow); $350 (1970 boat); $400 (1970 boat); $2,100 (1980 boat); and $7,000 (furnishings). Assuming these were gifted or abandoned (see invoices for junk hauling), they constitute a loss to the estate and cannot inflate the statutory fee basis. Counsel must recalculate the fee basis and show the math for both herself and petitioner. The balance of the petition is satisfactory to the Court except that petitioner’s request for reimbursement from the distributable net of the estate cannot include the $1,190 he paid on 02/20/2024 for the probate attorney’s initial fee. As the paid personal representative of the estate, he has a duty to safeguard the estate assets and he should have known not to pay an estate attorney without court permission to do so.

Counsel was invited to revisit the proposed distribution plan and to submit a revised order thereon. In the revised report, the administration and counsel note that some of the unaccounted for assets (totaling $5,250) were “stolen” and therefore should be treated as a loss to the estate for purposes of the statutory fee basis. The household furnishings of $7,000 remain in the home and will be distributed. The request to reduce the statutory attorney fee to $6,803 is granted, but the notion that petitioner’s fee should be reduced to the same level without regard to the fact that he lost $5,250 in assets belonging to the other beneficiaries and should bear no burden of a surcharge is unreasonable. He was reminded in the last probate note of his duty to safeguard assets. Under §12205, the 12-month delay in administration appears to have cost beneficiaries some of their inheritance, and that loss is on petitioner. His statutory fee is reduced to $3,803 and $1,000 is added to each beneficiary distribution. This Court does not see any reason stated for a reserve after two years of administration, so this should be distributed too.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

4 PR12411 Estate of William W. Nichols 02/15/2024

William W. Nichols

Antoinette Key Attorney: David Wade

Daniel S. Nichols Attorney: Carrie McKernan

Petition Hearing

Final Distribution

02/15/2024 Petition File Tracking 01/28/2025 High Density

Probate Notes are not tentative rulings. Parties and counsel are expected to appear for the hearings unless this note indicates that “no appearance is necessary.”
Unless a personal appearance is required, all participants may appear via Zoom without first securing Court permission using this link:
https://tuolumne-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1615813960?pwd=NTRMT0NwMDg5cnlYdzZ6VnBXWWFsUT09. [Meeting ID: 161 581 3960; Passcode: 123456].
All matters set for hearing in Department 5 are presumptively assigned to that department for all purposes. Parties retain the right under Cal. Const. art VI §21 to
decline consent to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem. By participating in the first hearing, or electing not to attend after due notice thereof, parties are
deemed to have stipulated to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem for the entire case. See CRC 2.816.

This is the initial hearing on a petition to approve the proposed plan for distribution of this testate estate. In the words of Sir Paul McCartney, this has been a long and winding road indeed. At issue is a constructive trust over a relatively modest parcel and a mobilehome with rental proceed potential. After several years, it appears that the absence of opposition to this petition signals an end to the litigation.

There is one issue, however, and that is payment of fees. According to the petition, the estate has zero liquidity, which means that counsel is unable to extract either his statutory fee or his litigation costs at this time. Any proposed order will required a warning to the client consistent with Probate Code §§ 11424, 11750(b).

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

5 PR12783 In The Matter of The Thomas A. Nelson 2009 Revocable Trust 04/07/2026

Cody Hall Attorney: Joshua Moon

Petition Hearing - Other

Trust

04/07/2026 Petition File Tracking 04/09/2026 High Density

Probate Notes are not tentative rulings. Parties and counsel are expected to appear for the hearings unless this note indicates that “no appearance is necessary.”
Unless a personal appearance is required, all participants may appear via Zoom without first securing Court permission using this link:
https://tuolumne-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1615813960?pwd=NTRMT0NwMDg5cnlYdzZ6VnBXWWFsUT09. [Meeting ID: 161 581 3960; Passcode: 123456].
All matters set for hearing in Department 5 are presumptively assigned to that department for all purposes. Parties retain the right under Cal. Const. art VI §21 to
decline consent to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem. By participating in the first hearing, or electing not to attend after due notice thereof, parties are

deemed to have stipulated to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem for the entire case. See CRC 2.816.

This is a petition involving real property and various testamentary instruments reportedly executed as a byproduct of elder abuse and undue influence. There are related cases, to wit: FL5367, CV67889, CV68015, CV68075. The three restraining order cases have been related and set for a continued hearing in this department on June 5.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

6 PR12327 The Estate of John Robert Holland 09/15/2023

Michelle Godino Pro Per

John Robert Holland

Francine Mendenhall Attorney: Kathryn Halligan

Review Hearing

Set Argument Hearing??

09/15/2023 Petition File Tracking 11/05/2025 High Density

Probate Notes are not tentative rulings. Parties and counsel are expected to appear for the hearings unless this note indicates that “no appearance is necessary.”
Unless a personal appearance is required, all participants may appear via Zoom without first securing Court permission using this link:
https://tuolumne-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1615813960?pwd=NTRMT0NwMDg5cnlYdzZ6VnBXWWFsUT09. [Meeting ID: 161 581 3960; Passcode: 123456].
All matters set for hearing in Department 5 are presumptively assigned to that department for all purposes. Parties retain the right under Cal. Const. art VI §21 to
decline consent to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem. By participating in the first hearing, or electing not to attend after due notice thereof, parties are

deemed to have stipulated to the Commissioner serving as a Judge Pro Tem for the entire case. See CRC 2.816.

Based on the stipulation of the parties, the Court will entertain oral argument on the MSJ and discovery motions, for which a detailed TR was previously provided to all parties.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 8:30 am DA Case # Date Filed

7 CVL65871 US Foods, INC. vs. Broken Road Corporation dba Local Press 01/30/2024

US Foods, INC. Attorney: Adam Brumage

Broken Road Corporation, a
California Corporation dba Local
Press
Order of Examination Hearing

OSC Hearing - Sanctions

Sanctions CCP 1775.5
OSC Hearing - Sanctions

Sanctions CRC 230

01/30/2024 Complaint File Tracking 02/05/2025 High Density

Sanction hearing for debtor failing to appear at debtor exam. Creditor did not file any declaration seeking to augment judgment.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 10:00 am DA Case # Date Filed

8 PR11534 Guardianship of Alixzander Davis, et al. 03/19/2018

Colleen Steele Pro Per

Alixzander Davis

Nyome Davis

Keair Steele Pro Per

Motion Hearing - Visitation

03/19/2018 Petition: Other File Tracking 03/19/2018 Petition 04/18/2025 High Density

This is an established guardianship over the person of two wards (siblings), ages 9 and 15. According to the most recent GC-251s, the wards have spent limited time with bio mom.

On 04/15/2026, bio mom filed an RFO seeking visitation with four children, only two of whom are identified as wards in this guardianship. The other two appear to have been adopted, which means that bio mom has no legal right to any visitation order involving them. Bio mom contends that she previously had access to the children from 10am – 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays but that guardian (the maternal grandmother) has reduced that time. Bio mom would like daily visits during the summer from 9am – noon. There is no response from the guardian.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 10:00 am DA Case # Date Filed

9 PR12704 Guardianship of Clemintine Lynn Garcia 09/23/2025

Wynter Garcia Pro Per

Clementine Lynn Garcia

Bernard Garcia Pro Per

Lillian Newquist Pro Per

Nolan Garcia Pro Per

Review Hearing

Appoint Guardian - Further

09/23/2025 Petition File Tracking 09/23/2025 Petition 12/22/2025 High Density

This is a contested guardianship petition. The Court has already granted the request for a temporary guardianship.

On 04/28/2026, a contested evidentiary hearing took place in this department on the issue of establishing a permanent guardianship. This Court heard from fifteen (15) witnesses, and began the process of reviewing hundreds of pages of court files from this and related cases. At the close of the hearing, this Court met with the grandparents to discuss possible resolution involving a stipulated guardianship with structured parenting time to bio mom. It appeared to this Court that the parties were in agreement and that a settlement would be proffered at the upcoming hearing.

No proposed settlement has been filed. Instead, a review of the court file reveals only a document entitled “Notice of Withdrawal of Consent for Commissioner” filed by the petitioners. This is not a recognized legal document, and as such it will be stricken. To the extent the petitioners wish to withdraw their stipulation, they must proceed consistent with the law, namely CRC 2.816(e). Meanwhile, if no resolution has been reached, this Court will proceed to issue a decision from the trial.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 10:00 am DA Case # Date Filed

10 PR12748 Guardianship of Jeremy Twofeather Kerr 01/23/2026

Sandra Aguilar Pro Per

Jeremy Twofeather Kerr Pro Per

Frank Aguilar-PRIOR PETITIONER

John Aguilar Pro Per

Appoint Guardian

ICWA

01/23/2026 Petition File Tracking 03/19/2026 High Density

This is the 5th hearing on a petition to establish a guardianship over one child who presently resides mostly with uncle/aunt. The child was previously thought to be a member of a federally-recognized tribe, triggering ICWA protections, but that concern has been resolved in the negative. It is understood that bio mom is now out of custody and arguably capable of parenting the child, so this case may now require a full evidentiary hearing on the necessity of a permanent guardianship.

Court will appoint minor’s counsel.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 10:00 am DA Case # Date Filed

11 PR12717 Guardianship of Mia Ellyana Faith O'Connor 10/14/2025

Bonnie Ellen O'Connor Pro Per

Faith O'Connor Pro Per

Mia Ellyana Faith O'Connor Pro Per

Review Hearing - Visitation

FURTHER - new petition for guardianship filed?

10/14/2025 Petition File Tracking 10/14/2025 Petition 10/23/2025 High Density

Court requires status on individuals residing in guardians home.

Bio mother failed to follow through on proposed succession plan.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 1:30 pm DA Case # Date Filed

12 PR11862 Guardianship of Aryahlinn Rivera 10/02/2020

Jeffrey Breseman Attorney: April Meyer

Sharon Beuttler Attorney: Michael Kalanta

Aryahlinn Renee Ava Rivera Attorney: Sally Chenault

Dillon Rivera Attorney: Kelly Bentley

Review Hearing

Trial Setting / Default Prove Up on Mother/Termination of rights.

08/31/2023 Petition File Tracking 07/02/2025 High Density Other Cases FL18178

Status update.

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 1:30 pm DA Case # Date Filed

13 CV68127 Petition of Elena Rose Hallack 02/20/2026

Elizabeth Marie Quist Pro Per

Brett Aaron Barlass Pro Per

Elena Rose Hallack

OSC Hearing - Name Change

02/20/2026 Petition File Tracking 03/11/2026 High Density

Nonconfidential name change; both parents consent; no proof of publication

5/19/2026 10:10 am

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne Consolidated Calendar Commissioner Steven Streger

Department 5 May 22, 2026 1:30 pm DA Case # Date Filed

14 FL15336 Lorraine Seal and Billy Seal 02/13/2018

Lorraine Seal Pro Per

Billy Seal Attorney: Kelly Bentley

Dept. Of Child Support Services Attorney: Dept. of Child
Support Services
Lorraine Seal Pro Per

Billy Seal Attorney:Pro Per Kelly Bentley

C Confidential Attorney: Christine Parraz

Court Trial: Long Cause

Day 2
Est. Duration: 4.00 Hours

08/11/2021 OSC Application File Tracking 11/08/2021 Civil Division

Day 2 (if needed)

5/19/2026 10:10 am