Tentative Ruling: Matter of Saulsbury-Gates Trust

Case Number

26PR00054

Case Type

Hearing Date / Time

Mon, 10/19/2026 - 08:30

Nature of Proceedings

Petition to Compel Accounting

Tentative Ruling

Probate Notes:

Appearances required. 

The following is noted for the Court at the hearing:

On January 23, 2026, Casey Gates filed a Petition for Internal Affairs of a Trust, pursuant to Probate Code section 17200, requesting an accounting.  On May 15, 2026, Trena I. Cauthen and Lucas Gates filed a written objection to Casey Gates’ petition, which places this matter at issue, requiring evidentiary hearing to resolve.  (In re Estate of Lensch (2009) 177 Cal.App.4th 667, 676; Conservatorship of Farrant (2021) 67 Cal.App.5th 370, 377.)

Parties must come prepared to set this matter for trial.

The following procedural defects also must be addressed:

The written objection shows no proper proof of service on the mandatory Judicial Council form DE-120.

Any Respondents desirous to object to the Petition, must file a written objection before the hearing.  The court has authority to require all objectors to file a written objection pursuant CRC, Rule 7.801, or else deem the failure to do so a waiver.