Court Opinion

ID: 9779034
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 21:34:11.252726+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:19.800362
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
With a combined amended motion for rehearing and motion to vacate sentence, relator presents two points of error. The first point is relator’s reiteration of his sole contention on original submission that the support order is too unclear, unspecific, and ambiguous to support the judgment of contempt. Adhering to our original decision adverse to relator’s contention, we overrule the first point.
Relator’s second-point contention, submitted for the first time on rehearing and without supporting authority, is that this Court no longer has jurisdiction of the cause because the child died on 13 June 1987, thereby terminating the support order and voiding the judgment of contempt. Although the lack of jurisdiction is only now presented, the question of jurisdiction is fundamental and can be raised at any time. Tullos v. Eaton Corporation, 695 S.W.2d 568 (Tex.1985). However, the contention is unavailing.
At the time the court adjudged relator in contempt, the support order was a subsisting one, for the child was then alive. The later death of the child did not terminate relator’s liability for the support payments ordered to be made prior thereto; the death merely terminated relator’s obligation to make support payments thereafter. Indeed, the trial court retained jurisdiction to enter a contempt order so long as a motion therefor was filed within six months after relator’s support obligation terminated upon the death of the child. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 14.40(b)(2) (Vernon 1986). See Ex Parte Wilbanks, 722 S.W.2d 221, 223-24 (Tex.App. — Amarillo 1986, orig. proceeding). And, of course, this Court has jurisdiction over any cause of which the district court had jurisdiction. Tex. Const. art. V, § 6. The second point is overruled.
Accordingly, relator’s amended motion for rehearing and motion to vacate sentence are overruled.