Tentative Ruling: Estate of Orion Keith Ray

Case Number

26PR00168

Case Type

Hearing Date / Time

Tue, 06/09/2026 - 09:00

Nature of Proceedings

Petition for Letters of Administration

Tentative Ruling

Probate Notes:

Appearances required.

On March 26, 2026, Charlene Ann Ray filed a Petition for Letters of Administration, requesting that she be appointed the Personal Representative of the estate.  On May 18, 2026, Kerry Ray, Jodie Ray, and Erin Ray filed an objection to the petition, placing the matter at issue and 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.)

Due to the objection, the following must be submitted:

Competing Petition.  When appointment of a personal representative is contested, Probate Code section 8004 requires a written objection and competing petition be filed and served in accordance with Probate Code section 8110 [15 days, mail or personal service to all entitled to take by intestate, and each devisee, executor, and alternative executor].  (Prob. Code, § 8004, subd. (a).)  The competing petition need not be published as long as publication of the first petition was completed according to statute.

There is no competing petition on file.  Objector must file a competing petition for letters of administration on form DE-111, before an evidentiary hearing can be set.