Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of Martha A.
The court held that a trial court abuses its discretion when, after warning self-representing parties that failure to file written objections waives their right to be heard, it permits oral objections and gives them weight in determining an attorney-fee award-thereby violating procedural due-process requirements in conservatorship accounting-and consequently reversed the fee-.
Date Filed: August 22, 2025
Case Name: Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of Martha A.
Case Number: G063437
Court: California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three
The Court holds that a trial court abuses its discretion when it permits self‑representing parties to make oral objections after they have been warned that failure to file written objections waives the right to be heard, and then gives those oral statements weight in deciding an attorney‑fee award. Accordingly, the appellate court reverses the fee‑reduction order and remands for a new determination based solely on the written objections that were properly filed. The decision reinforces strict adherence to procedural due‑process requirements in conservatorship accounting, ensuring that fee petitions are decided on the record‑ed evidence rather than on waived, informal arguments.
This case summary was prepared for educational purposes. For the authoritative version, please refer to the full opinion or the official California Courts website.