Judge Steven M. Gevercer

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New conservatorship cases in Sacramento County Superior Court have risen sharply over the past three years.  Judge Steven M. Gevercer, who presides in Department 129 (the Probate Division), presented startling numbers at a March 21, 2017 lunch of the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Probate and Estate Planning Section.  The panelists, including the judge and veteran court staff, spoke on “Issues Arising in Conservatorship Cases.”

According to Judge Gevercer, in Fiscal Year 2014 (ending June 30, 2014), there were 238 new conservatorship cases filed in Sacramento.  The number rose to 287 new filings in Fiscal Year 2015 and 333 in Fiscal Year 2016.  This amounts to a whopping 40 percent increase in conservatorship cases over the most recent three years.

Yolo CourthouseMost California trust and estate litigation occurs in the probate department of the Superior Court, where the assigned judge manages and ultimately decides disputes.  Generally, there is no right to a jury trial so the outcome in contested cases rests with the judge, often supported by court staff who conduct file review and legal research.

The first quarter of 2017 brings changes in the assigned judges at the probate departments in Placer County Superior Court and Yolo County Superior Court, while there is continuity at Sacramento County Superior Court.

Department 129 SignThis month Judge Steven M. Gevercer will replace Judge David F. De Alba as the probate judge in Department 129 of the Sacramento County Superior Court. Judge Gevercer was appointed to the bench by Governor Jerry Brown in 2012 and previously served in the California Attorney General’s Office.

Judges typically spend a year or two in Department 129 before moving on to other assignments within the court. Fortunately for all, the dedicated court staff who support Department 129 provide continuity over the years.