Case Name: In the Interest of T. P. S., a minor
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1980-01-02
Citations: 595 S.W.2d 320
Docket Number: No. 11349
Parties: In the Interest of T. P. S., a minor.
Judges: All concur; except FLANIGAN, C. J., dissents and files dissenting opinion, and MAUS, J., dissents and concurs in the dissenting opinion.
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 595
Pages: 320–325

Head Matter:
In the Interest of T. P. S., a minor.
No. 11349.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, En Banc.
Jan. 2, 1980.
Motion for Rehearing and Transfer. Denied Feb. 26, 1980.
Donald J. Hager, Farmington, for appellant.
John R. Fowlkes, Caruthersville, for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
The mother of the child filed a notice of appeal from a judgment terminating her parental rights pursuant to § 211.442-211.-492, RSMo 1978. The judgment was entered March 6, 1979. There were no after trial motions and on April 12, 1979, the notice of appeal was filed. Section 211.261,. RSMo 1978 provides that notice of appeal from a judgment under chapter 211 "shall be filed within thirty days after the final judgment, order or decree has been entered . . . ." See also Rule 120.01 V.A.M.R. The notice here was filed 37 days after the judgment was entered.
The right of appeal under the juvenile code is purely statutory and we cannot enlarge the period within which an appeal may be taken. In Interest of R_, 362 S.W.2d 642 (Mo.App.1962). Under the juvenile code, filing of the notice of appeal within 30 days of the entry of judgment is a prerequisite to our jurisdiction. In Interest of P. J. M., 536 S.W.2d 519 (Mo.App.1976). While we have no choice but to dismiss the appeal, the transcript has been reviewed and the contentions of the parties considered. We believe that the best interests of the minor were served by the judgment entered. See In Interest of R_, supra, 362 S.W.2d at 645.
We do not have jurisdiction. The appeal is dismissed.