Estate of Hoult CA4/3

FACTS

On December 14, 2009, Elizabeth, her two young daughters, and her mother Bonnie died tragically in murder-suicide shootings by Bonnie. Jason was the children’s father and Elizabeth’s estranged husband. At the time of the shootings, Jason and Elizabeth were living apart while embroiled in divorce proceedings, including a heated child custody battle. Jennifer is Elizabeth’s cousin and was a beneficiary under Bonnie’s will.

Jason’s Accounting Petition On July 23, 2012, Jason, as a former administrator of the Estate, filed a first and final report and account for the period between March 25, 2010 and May 1, 2012. Jason filed an amended account on January 14, 2013. In his report, Jason explained he had served as the Estate’s administrator because the Orange County Public Guardian asked him to do so after Jennifer withdrew from controlling the Estate. The court issued

1 To avoid confusion, we refer to the parties by their first names. We mean no disrespect. 2 The orders regarding Jason’s accounting and the Lexus are appealable under Code of Civil Procedure section 904.1, subdivision (10), and Probate Code section 1300, subdivisions (b) and (k), respectively. The order…