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 matters own motion, the Court orders Respondent to comply within thirty (30) days of this ruling and admonishes Respondent that the failure to do so may result in the striking of the Response and entry of Respondent’s default.

Date: April 2, 2026  

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

FL-25-001264 – IRMO MASTAGNI 

Respondent’s Request for Order re Bifurcate Pre-Nup —HEARING REQUIRED. 

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 Sarah Birmingham in Department #14:   

285879 – PRASAD VS PRASAD 

Petitioner’s Request for Order re Elisor, etc.—HEARING REQUIRED. 

Petitioner’s Proof of Service avers mail service of Respondent on February 18, 2026, which is timely for purposes of notice, and Respondent has not filed any Responsive Declaration or other formal opposition. 

That said, it has been over two decades since final judgment was entered in 2005 and Family Code section 215 requires individual party service.  While the Proof of Service is directed to Respondent, there is no affidavit or other declaration attesting to the verification of Respondent’s current address.  Family Code section 215, subpart (b), states in pertinent part, “For any party served by mail, the proof of service shall include an address verification.”  

Because compliance with section 215 is “jurisdictional” in post-judgment proceedings to which it applies, the Court is inclined to deny the request without prejudice unless either (a) Respondent appears and waives any objection to notice or service under section 215 or (b) Petitioner’s counsel appears and demonstrates good cause to continue the hearing to obtain confirmation of Respondent’s current address and actual notice of the order request. 

If the latter, then Petitioner and counsel are advised that elisor requests must include a proposed order and comply with Local Rules, rule 7.08(A).  Moreover, for purposes of the request for attorney’s fees and costs, the procedural requirements for an award of sanctions pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 128.5, including the specificity of amount and the “safe harbor” provision, are absent from counsel’s Points & Authorities, while any sanctions pursuant to Family Code section 271 require current financial information from both parties in order to make the requisite findings regarding financial burden as to the party to be sanctioned and the amount; while it appears Petitioner filed and served an I&E with this motion, there is nothing from Respondent.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 128.5(f)(1)(A)-(D); Fam. Code, § 271(b); Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 5.92.)  Assuming the hearing is continued, the Court will nevertheless reserve jurisdiction over the request for attorney’s fees and costs as a sanction, subject to procedural compliance by Petitioner and sufficient notice and opportunity to respond by Respondent. 

The following are the tentative ruling cases calendared before Judge Maria Elena Ramos-Ratliff in Department #25:    

FL-22-001814 – ATTAWAY VS ATTAWAY 

Attorney for Petitioner’s Motion to Be Relieved—HEARING REQUIRED. 

Pursuant to counsel’s declaration, the Court will entertain counsel’s request to be heard in camera as to legal and factual basis for involuntary withdrawal and as to counsel’s representation that efforts to confirm Petitioner’s current address for notice and service of the motion have been unsuccessful but that the Court should deem this requirement satisfied.  (Cal. Rules of Ct., 3.1362.)   

In the interests of judicial economy, before entertaining any closed door or in camera proceeding, the Court will require Petitioner’s counsel to demonstrate due diligence as to address verification, and will likely continue the hearing or deny the motion without prejudice, absent good cause to the contrary.  The Court’s primary concerns with regard to involuntary motions to withdraw is to ensure the fairness of proceedings to all parties and the avoidance or mitigation of any prejudice to the client from the withdrawal of an attorney as counsel of record. 

FL-24-002432 – BAHL VS BAHL 

(a) Continued Hearing re Respondent’s Request for Order re Discovery; (b) Petitioners Request for Order re Custody Report Disclosure, etc.—(a) and (b): HEARING REQUIRED. 

Counsel for the parties shall appear and a further IDC will be conducted in an effort to reach a global resolution of all pending discovery issues.  The continued IDC is without prejudice to the rights and objections of both parties should the IDC not resolve the pending disputes.  While the parties need not appear, as per Local Rules, they must be available by phone or otherwise should counsel require client consent or authority for any agreements. 

FL-25-001925 – CASTILLO VS VELAQUEZ 

Attorney for Respondent’s Motion to Be Relieved—HEARING REQUIRED. 

Pursuant to counsel’s declaration, the Court will entertain counsel’s request to be heard in camera as to legal and factual basis for involuntary withdrawal and as to counsel’s representation that efforts to confirm Petitioner’s current address for notice and service of the motion have been unsuccessful but that the Court should deem this requirement satisfied.  (Cal. Rules of Ct., 3.1362.)   

In the interests of judicial economy, before entertaining any closed door or in camera proceeding, the Court will require Petitioner’s counsel to demonstrate due diligence as to address verification, and will likely continue the hearing or deny the motion without prejudice, absent good cause to the contrary.  The Court’s primary concerns with regard to involuntary motions to withdraw is to ensure the fairness of proceedings to all parties and the avoidance or mitigation of any prejudice to the client from the withdrawal of an attorney as counsel of record.