Estate of Ribal CA4/3

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. The Prior Proceedings This court has issued three opinions, one published, involving Nguyen and Ribal’s representatives. We draw our facts from the record in this appeal and these prior opinions: In Re Domestic Partnership of Ribal and Nguyen (Mar. 4, 2015, G049594) [nonpub. opn.] (Nguyen I); In Re Conservatorship of Ribal (Sept. 28, 2016, G052668) [nonpub. opn.] (Nguyen II); and Conservatorship of Ribal (2019) 31 Cal.App.5th 519, 521 (Nguyen III). Ribal and Nguyen met in the 1970’s. At that time, Ribal was married with two children. Ribal and his wife separated in 1983, and they later divorced. That same year, Nguyen moved into Ribal’s home. However, Ribal and Nguyen kept their respective financial assets and accounts separate. Our prior opinions outline evidence showing Ribal’s mental capabilities began to severely decline in the late 2000s and early

2 2010s. For example, the trial court in Nguyen II relied on expert testimony showing Ribal lacked the ability to care for himself or handle financial matters by January 2010. In January 2010, Ribal and Nguyen filed a declaration of domestic partnership. Ribal’s two children, Laura Tiano and David…