Source: http://tx.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20170331_0004453.TX.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-02-20 09:44:38
Document Index: 126568878

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 155', '§ 155', '§ 155', '§ 262', '§ 262', '§ 262']

On Appeal from the 307th District Court Gregg County, Texas Trial Court No. 2015-369-DR
Mother and Father appeal the trial court's decision to terminate their parental rights to their children, D.W. and K.W.[1] Because we conclude that the trial court had jurisdiction to enter the order terminating their parental rights, we affirm the trial court's judgment terminating Father's parental rights. Because we further find that there is factually sufficient evidence to support the trial court's judgment that termination of Mother's parental rights was in D.W.'s and K.W.'s best interests, we also affirm the trial court's judgment terminating Mother's parental rights. [2]
A. The 2011-12 Upshur County Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) Proceeding
Section 155.001 of the Texas Family Code confers jurisdiction "over the parties and subject matter of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship." In re G.A.J., No. 01-12-00256-CV, 2012 WL 4857925, at *2 (Tex. App-Houston [1st Dist] Oct. 11, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.); see Saavedra v. Schmidt, 96 S.W.3d 533, 540 (Tex. App-Austin 2002, no pet.). Once a Texas court has acquired continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under Section 155.001, "no other court of this state has jurisdiction of a suit with regard to [the children] except as provided by [Chapter 155], Section 103.001(b), or Chapter 262." Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 155.001(c) (West Supp. 2016). Accordingly, when the 115th JDC entered the March 2012 final order in the SAPCR, it "acquire[d] continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the matters . . . in connection with the child[ren] on the rendition of [the] final order." Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 155.001(a) (West Supp. 2016).
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 155.204(i) (West 2014).[3] On August 23, 2016, the 307th JDC held the final hearing on the Department's Chapter 161 petition for termination of parental rights and, on September 23, 2016, entered an order terminating Mother and Father's parental rights to their children.
II. Father's and Mother's Point of Error Number One-Did the Trial Court Have Jurisdiction to Enter the Final Orders Under Section 262.203(a)(2)?
Under Chapter 262, the Department may, under certain circumstances, take emergency possession of children without prior notice and a hearing. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 262.001 (West 2014). Even though a different court may have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under Chapter 155, a suit brought by a governmental entity requesting an order under Chapter 262 "may be filed in a court with jurisdiction to hear the suit in the county in which the child is found." Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 262.002 (West 2014). Chapter 262 authorizes a trial court to enter emergency orders and other temporary orders. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 262.102-.103 (West Supp. 2016). Therefore, the 307th JDC had jurisdiction to enter emergency orders and temporary orders regarding D.W. and K.W.