Estate of Jeanne Pate
Estate of Jeanne Pate
Case Number
24PR00129
Case Type
Hearing Date / Time
Wed, 04/24/2024 - 08:30
Nature of Proceedings
Petition for Probate and Letters Testamentary
Tentative Ruling
Probate Notes:
The following must be submitted:
Improper Publication. Jurisdiction of the Probate Court is obtained by publication in accordance with Probate Code section 8121. (Prob. Code, § 8003(b).) Publication requires the notice to be published in a newspaper adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in the city of decedent’s residence (Prob. Code, §§ 8121, 7122) and to contain the substantially same language and format shown in Probate Code section 8100. If the city of decedent’s residence has no newspaper adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation, publication must occur “in a newspaper of general circulation in the county which is circulated within the area of the county in which the decedent resided or the property is located.” (Prob. Code, §8121(b).)
Santa Barbara Independent has not been adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation in the city of Santa Maria, where Decedent was a resident. A declaration of substantial compliance will not be sufficient and re-publication must occur. (Prob. Code, § 8122.)
Original Will. An original will and any codicil to that will must be lodged with the Court. (Prob. Code, §§ 8200, et seq.) It is insufficient to attach a copy of the will to the petition without lodging the original.
If the original is lost, petitioner must amend the Petition to provide an attachment alleging why the presumption of destruction in Probate Code section 6124 should not apply, or provide evidence overcoming the presumption of destruction.
Petitioner may overcome this presumption with substantial evidence that shows the Court some supported fact that the Decedent did not destroy the will. Petitioner is referred to the following authority to understand the evidence required to overcome the presumption of destruction in Probate Code section 6124:
- Estate of Trikha (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 791, 804 [substantial evidence required to overcome presumption]
- Lauermann v. Superior Court (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 1327, 1333 [Duplicate Original not usually sufficient]
If the documents curing these deficiencies are not processed by 8:00 a.m. on April 22, 2024, it is recommended that the matter be continued to a date to be set by the Court at the hearing, unless the party appears and requests a different date, or submits a request for a different continuance date prior to the hearing. (Local Rule 1721(c)(2)(A-B).) If the matter is continued, documents must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the new hearing date to be considered.
Due to staffing limitations, processing times may be delayed. To assist in processing, attorneys and parties should include the next court date in the “Filing Description” field provided by the electronic service provider. That field is also used for further descriptions of the document being e-filed, so be sure to put the calendar date FIRST in the field – BEFORE any further description of the document being e-filed (e.g.: 06/28/16 For XYZ).