Family Law Tentative Rulings

The family court issues tentative ruling announcements on the court day prior to the scheduled hearing for specific types of motions. Tentative rulings are only provided on the Internet and posted in the clerk’s office lobby. Internet postings occur at 3:30 p.m. daily.

Parties are not required to give notice of intent to appear to preserve the right to a hearing. The tentative ruling will not become final until the hearing. (Stan. Cnty. Local Rules, rule 7.05.1) However, as a courtesy to the Court, and other parties or counsel with matters on calendar, notice of intended appearance or non-appearance is encouraged and may be sent by e-mail to the following address: familylaw.tentatives@stanct.org between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail from the clerk, you may call to speak directly with a Calendar Clerk at 209-530-3107.

Any party filing pleadings or documents on a tentative ruling matter within five (5) days of the hearing should provide a courtesy copy to the Courtroom Clerk and the Court’s Family Law Research Attorney by placing a copy in the drop box slot on the door of Room 223, Second Floor of the main Courthouse. Failure to do so may prevent the Court from consideration of such, may result in a continuance, and/or may be considered in the award of conduct-based fees and costs. (Stan. Cnty. Local Rules, rule 7.05.1(B).)

All parties and counsel are required to meet and confer in a good faith effort to resolve the dispute on any request, motion or hearing, with the exception of those involving domestic violence, and to exchange any documents upon which reliance will be made at the hearing. (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 5.98; Stan. Cnty. Local Rules, rule 7.05.1(C).) Failure to do so may result in a continuance and may be considered in the award of conduct-based fees and costs, or both. If sufficient information regarding an adequate pre-hearing meet and confer effort is not provided in the moving and opposing papers, in the Court’s discretion, the matter may be placed at the end of the calendar and not called until the parties or counsel advise the Court that they have complied with their obligations and/or resolved the matter.

Date: February 3, 2025

The following are the tentative ruling cases calendared before Judge Alan Cassidy in Department #11:

THERE ARE NO TENTATIVES.

The following are the tentative ruling cases calendared before Judge J. Richard Distaso in Department #13:

THERE ARE NO TENTATIVES.

The following are the tentative ruling cases calendared before Judge Sweena Pannu in Department #14:

FL-24-001717 – RODRIGUEZ VS RODRIGUEZ

Respondent’s Request for Order re “Dismiss Case”—DENIED, without prejudice.

Respondent filed a Response to the Petition for Dissolution on December 18, 2024.  A motion to quash, or “dismiss,” a dissolution petition based on another identical action pending or previously filed in another county must be made before a general appearance is made in the action by the respondent or a response to the petition is filed, otherwise all such objections are waived.  (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 5.63(b),(e).)

Respondent cites Code of Civil Procedure section 116.370 and argues that venue is improper according to this statute, but 116.370 applies to Small Claims Court, and does not apply to cases under the Family Code such as this.

That said, the motion is denied without prejudice as the Court has the discretionary authority to change venue and transfer an action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 397, subsection (c).

692233 – RUPP VS PENALOSA

Petitioner’s Request for Order re Change Venue—DENIED, without prejudice.

There is no proof of service on file and the County DCSS remains a party to this case.  All parties must be given notice and served with the moving papers.  (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 5.94(b).)

The following are the tentative ruling cases calendared before Judge David I. Hood in Department #25:

THERE ARE NO TENTATIVES.