Estate of Jimenez CA2/6

Filed 10/16/25 Estate of Jimenez CA2/6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SIX

Estate of EVELYN GLORIA 2d Civil No. B343172 JIMENEZ, Deceased. (Super. Ct. No. 202200564024PRLA) (Ventura County)

MICHELE DAWN BATES MARTINEZ et al.,

Objectors and Respondents,

v.

ROBERT COFFMAN,

Objector and Appellant.

Robert Coffman (Robert) appeals an adverse ruling from a petition to determine heirship and entitlement to the Estate of Evelyn Gloria Jimenez (Decedent).1 We affirm.

1 We refer to many of the parties or heirs by their first

name not from disrespect, but to ease the reader’s task.

This appeal concerns the matter of Robert’s asserted entitlement to a one-sixth share of Decedent’s intestate estate. Robert contends that genetic testing results from Ancestry.com revealed that he and Decedent had an aunt/nephew relationship and that he is the biological son of Decedent’s brother. Robert rests his argument in part upon Probate Code section 6453, subdivision (b)(3).2 We agree with the probate court that Robert has not established a natural parent/child relationship with Decedent’s brother by clear and convincing evidence. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Decedent died intestate on January 22, 2022, leaving an estate in Ventura County, California. Decedent had no children, and her parents and husband predeceased her. Decedent had a half-sister, Abigal Lea Escalera Bates, who predeceased her. Michele Dawn Bates Martinez (Michele) and Gregory Wayne Bates (Gregory) are the children of the half- sister. Decedent also had a half-brother, Louis Alberto Espriu (Louis), who predeceased her. Louis died on February 6, 1975. He had four children, two of whom have survived Decedent: Lewis Espriu, Jr. and Elena Espriu (Elena). Robert and Elena were appointed co-administrators of Decedent’s estate. They received letters of administration on July 7, 2022. On July 11, 2024, Michele filed a petition to determine heirship and entitlement to estate pursuant to section 11700. Michele requested the probate court to divide Decedent’s estate into five equal shares at the level of niece and nephew. In the petition, Michele asserted that Robert was not an issue of Louis.