MATTHEW HICKS V. TIFFINE CHRISTINE WOODSIDE

LAW & MOTION TENTATIVE RULINGS DEPARTMENT 5 March 26, 2026 8:30 a.m./1:30 p.m.

5. MATTHEW HICKS V. TIFFINE CHRISTINE WOODSIDE 22FL0345

On January 12, 2026, Minor’s Counsel filed a Request for Order (RFO) seeking custody and visitation orders. The RFO and the Notice of Tentative Ruling were both served on Respondent on January 14th and on Petitioner on January 23rd.

Petitioner filed a Responsive Declaration to Request for Order on March 11th. There is no Proof of Service for this document therefore the court has not read or considered it.

Respondent has not filed a Responsive Declaration to Request for Order. Where a party fails to timely file opposition papers the court, in its discretion, may treat said failure “as an admission that the motion or other application is meritorious.” El Dorado County, Local Rule 7.10.02(C). Here, the RFO was timely and properly served on Respondent. She had notice of the pending request, and chose not to file an opposition. As such, the court finds good cause to treat her failure to do so as an admission that she is of the opinion that the claims made in the RFO are meritorious.

Minor’s Counsel seeks an order allowing Respondent to move to Montana with the minor. She further requests an order allowing the child to hyphenate his last name to add Respondent’s last name.

The request to change the child’s last name is granted. The child may change his last name to hyphenate and add Mother’s last name.

The parties are ordered to appear to select trial and Mandatory Settlement Conference dates on the move-away request.

Minor’s Counsel is directed to prepare the Findings and Orders After Hearing (FOAH), however this order is effective immediately upon the court’s adoption of the tentative ruling and is not conditioned on the preparation of the FOAH.

TENTATIVE RULING #5: THE REQUEST TO CHANGE THE CHILD’S LAST NAME IS GRANTED. THE CHILD MAY CHANGE HIS LAST NAME TO HYPHENATE AND ADD MOTHER’S LAST NAME.

THE PARTIES ARE ORDERED TO APPEAR TO SELECT TRIAL AND MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE DATES ON THE MOVE-AWAY REQUEST.

MINOR’S COUNSEL IS DIRECTED TO PREPARE THE FINDINGS AND ORDERS AFTER HEARING (FOAH), HOWEVER THIS ORDER IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON

LAW & MOTION TENTATIVE RULINGS DEPARTMENT 5 March 26, 2026 8:30 a.m./1:30 p.m.

THE COURT’S ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE RULING AND IS NOT CONDITIONED ON THE PREPARATION OF THE FOAH.