Merced — Thursday, September 17, 2026 815 am

Source: https://www.merced.courts.ca.gov/system/files/probate-notes-cr10-thursday-september-17-2026-815-am.pdf

Superior Court of California

County of Merced

Probate Department

Probate Notes

Probate Notes for future calendars are available from the time they are created until the

morning of the scheduled hearing. The Probate Examiner’s Notes typically will be posted 5

days prior to the hearing. If you are filing documents to cure a technical defect, documents

should be filed a minimum of 2 court days prior to the hearing. Documents filed late will not

be reviewed except on the date of the hearing at the Judge’s discretion and could result in a

continuance of your case.

Parties intending to appear in Court regarding their hearing must notify all other parties and

call (209) 725-4111 to notify the Court of such intent by 4:00 pm on the day before the

hearing.

Contacting the Probate Examiner:

Probate Examiner’s email address is: probate.examiner@mercedcourt.org

Emails must have the case identification information and hearing date/time 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 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 Examiner in response to your email.

Questions regarding fees, forms, status of orders, Zoom links or remote appearances

should be directed to the Probate Unit of the Clerk’s Office at (209) 725-4111 between the

hours of 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.

The following cases are not reflected in the Probate Notes and appearances are required

unless previously excused by the Court:

▪ Guardianships and Conservatorships of the Person ▪ Minor’s Compromise cases before the Probate Court for approval ▪ Petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings

*Questions involving Guardianships (including SIJF) and Conservatorships of the Person should be

directed to the Court Investigators Office at (209) 725-4190.

Please note no legal or procedural advice can be provided by the Court Investigator’s Office.

Superior Court of California, County of Merced PROBATE/CONSERVATORSHIP CALENDAR HONORABLE: James LaPorte ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: Thursday, September 17, 2026 TIME: 8:15 AM Courtroom 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBATE CALENDAR

The following tentative rulings shall become the ruling of the court unless a party gives notice of

intention to appear as follows:

1. You must call (209) 725-4240 to notify the court of your intent to appear.

2. You must give notice to all other parties before 4:00 p.m. of your intent to object.

Per California Rules of Court, rule 3.1308(a)(1), failure to do both items 1 and 2 will result in no oral

argument. Parties who contest the tentative ruling or wish to appear remotely at a hearing

must contact the clerk of the Court at (209) 725-4111 to provide their contact information for

the remote hearing.

CASE#: 23PR-00036

CASE NAME: Estate of Joann Croft

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from August 6, 2026 re: Review of Case Status

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS WERE PREVIOUSLY NOTED: 1. A Petition for Final Account or Status Report has not been filed. Prob Code §12200-12201

TENTATIVE RULING: Appearance required. Counsel to advise the Court on the current case status.

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Probate Notes – Thursday, September 17, 2026

CASE#: 24PR-00364

CASE NAME: Estate of Darlene Wright

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued July 2, 2026 re: 1. First and Final Waiver of Account and Report of Administrator, Petition for Final Distribution and Allowance of Statutory Compensation of Attorney’s Fees 2. Continued from June 16, 2025 re: Status Hearing re: Closing of the Estate

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS WERE PREVIOUSLY NOTED: 1. What is the status of the real property located on Herman Street, Atwater as reflected in the I&A filed on 2/25/25? *Addressed at the 3/5/26 hearing 2. Did deceased heir Daniel Wright have a will? Who is the personal representative of his estate? Prob Code §§11801 et seq. *Addressed

TENTATIVE RULING: No appearance required. The hearing is continued to October 5, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 10 to be heard concurrently with case # 26PR-00346 Estate of Daniel Wright.

CASE#: 25PR-00074

CASE NAME: Estate of Richard Cron

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: First and Final Report of Administrator on Waiver of Account and Petition for Reimbursement of Costs Advances by Attorneys, Allowance of Statutory Compensation to Attorneys and For Final Distribution.

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS ARE NOTED: None.

TENTATIVE RULING: No appearance required. The First and Final Report of Administrator on Waiver of Account and Petition for Reimbursement of Costs Advances by Attorneys, Allowance of Statutory Compensation to Attorneys and For Final Distribution is approved. A Status Hearing ensuring the closing of the estate is hereby set for January 14, 2027 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 10.

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Probate Notes – Thursday, September 17, 2026

CASE#: 25PR-00132

CASE NAME: Estate of Ruben Andrade

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from August 5, 2026 re: Petition for Order of Final Distribution of Estate; First and Final Account and Report of Administrator; For Authorization of Payment of Statutory Attorney and Administrator Fees and Costs & For Reimbursement of Personal Monies Advanced

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS WERE PREVIOUSLY NOTED: 1. A Request for Special Notice and Creditor’s Claim was filed by the California FTB on 6/5/26. *Corrected – Withdrawn on 8/21/26 2. Notice has not been provided to all persons who requested special notice. Prob Code §§11000, 1220 *Corrected – filed 8/12/26

TENTATIVE RULING: No appearance required. The Petition for Order of Final Distribution of Estate; First and Final Account and Report of Administrator; For Authorization of Payment of Statutory Attorney and Administrator Fees and Costs & For Reimbursement of Personal Monies Advanced is approved. A Status Hearing ensuring the closing of the estate is hereby set for February 3, 2027 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 10.

CASE#: 25PR-00281

CASE NAME: Estate of Christopher Ryan Henderson

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from January 23, 2026 re: Status Hearing ensuring the Closing of the Estate

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS ARE NOTED: 1. Distributive Receipts and an Ex Parte Petition For Final Discharge And Order (DE-295) have not been submitted. Prob Code §§11753, 12250

TENTATIVE RULING: No appearance required. The Status Review Hearing is continued to December 21, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 10 to allow counsel additional time to file the appropriate Distributive Receipts and Ex Parte Petition for Final Discharge with the Court.

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Probate Notes – Thursday, September 17, 2026

CASE#: 25PR-00301

CASE NAME: Estate of Joanna C. Lafler

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from August 13, 2026 re: First and Final Report of Administrator on Waiver of Account and Petition for Allowance of Statutory Compensation to Administrator and Attorney and For Final Distribution

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS WERE PREVIOUSLY NOTED: 1. Creditor’s Claim by AT&T Mobility filed on 3/3/26 remains unaddressed for the 9/9/26 hearing.

TENTATIVE RULING: No appearance required. The hearing is continued to October 22, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 10 for correction of the deficiency.

CASE#: 26PR-00051

CASE NAME: In the Matter of the Padilla Family 2016 Trust Agreement dated December 1, 2016

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from June 25, 2026 re: Petition for Removal of Successor Trustee and Request for Accounting

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS ARE NOTED: None.

TENTATIVE RULING: Appearance required. Counsel to advise the Court on the current case status.

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Probate Notes – Thursday, September 17, 2026

CASE#: 26PR-00168

CASE NAME: Matter of JoAnne Smith

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from August 5, 2026 re: Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property and Personal Property

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS WERE PREVIOUSLY NOTED: 1. Missing Attachment 8 – An Inventory and Appraisal with an appraisal by the Probate Referee. 2. Attachment 11 is: a. Missing the legal description of the real property b. Does not identify any personal property of the decedent sought to be transferred to the Petitioners. 3. A copy of the most recent vesting deed for the subject real property to be submitted. 4. A proposed Order has not been lodged. MSC 100E.

TENTATIVE RULING: Appearance required.

CASE#: 26PR-00247

CASE NAME: Estate of Mack Albert McCallum

THIS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING ON: Continued from July 30, 2026 re: Petition for Letters of Administration with Full IAEA Authority

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AND/OR DEFICIENCIES IN THE PAPERS ARE NOTED: 1. An Objection and competing Petition has been filed. 2. The decedent died testate and a will has been lodged with the Court.

TENTATIVE RULING: No appearance required. The hearing is continued to October 9, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 10 to be heard with the competing Petition in case #26PR-00352.

(End of Tentative Rulings)

Probate Notes – Thursday, September 17, 2026