Court Opinion

ID: 4563412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-07 07:14:33.092801+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:44.578967
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-20-00189-CV

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                           TYLER, TEXAS

IN THE INTEREST OF                                       §       APPEAL FROM THE 245TH

M.D. AND M.D.,                                           §       JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

CHILDREN                                                 §       HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

                                       MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                           PER CURIAM
        S.F., acting pro se, filed a notice of appeal to alter a temporary order signed on December
12, 2018. 1
        Generally, an appellate court has jurisdiction over appeals only from “final orders”
rendered under Title 5 of the Texas Family Code, unless a statute authorizes an interlocutory
appeal. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 109.002(b) (West Supp. 2019) (“An appeal may be taken
by any party to a suit from a final order rendered under this title.”); see, e.g., Brejon v. Johnson,
314 S.W.3d 26, 33 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, no pet.). In a suit affecting the parent
child relationship, a trial court may make a temporary order for the safety and welfare of the
child. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 105.001(a) (West 2019). Temporary orders rendered under
Section 105.001 are not subject to interlocutory appeal. 2 Id. § 105.001(e).
        Here, the temporary order states that it shall continue in force until the signing of a final
order or until further order of the trial court. The record does not demonstrate that a trial court
has signed a final order in this case. Nor is this Court aware of any statute that authorizes an

        1
          Pursuant to a docket equalization order issued by the Supreme Court of Texas on July 30, 2020, this
appeal has been transferred to this Court from the First Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas.
        2
           Mandamus is an appropriate remedy in a suit affecting the parent child relationship because the issuance
of temporary orders is not subject to interlocutory appeal. See In re Derzapf, 219 S.W.3d 327, 335 (Tex. 2007); see
also In re Salminen, 492 S.W.3d 31, 38 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2016, no pet.).
appeal from the temporary order S.F. seeks to challenge. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for
want of jurisdiction.3 See Davis v. Lopez, No. 01-17-00052-CV, 2017 WL 1149211, at *1 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 28, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.) (per curiam) (dismissing, for want
of jurisdiction, appeal from temporary order in suit affecting the parent child relationship). All
pending motions are overruled as moot.4
Opinion delivered September 2, 2020.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

         3
           On August 11, 2020, this Court notified S.F. that the information received in this appeal failed to show
this Court’s jurisdiction and that the appeal would be dismissed unless the notice of appeal was amended on or
before August 21 to show this Court’s jurisdiction. S.F. responded with a lengthy amendment that alleged fraud on
the court, among other allegations. Her response, however, does not negate the fact that the temporary order in this
case is not appealable.
         4
           We also note that S.F. filed a statement of inability to afford costs, which the court reporter contested. At
a hearing, at which a financial information statement predating the COVID-19 pandemic was presented, the trial
court concluded that S.F. failed to show her inability to pay. The trial court explained that S.F. testified to income
from work, has financial support from friends and resources available to her, had not attempted to secure a loan, and
did not testify that she is unable to obtain a loan. S.F. filed a notice of appeal to challenge the trial court’s
determination. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 145(g). However, because we are dismissing the appeal for want of jurisdiction,
we need not address this issue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1. See also Meuth v. Meuth, No. 03-19-00254-CV, 2019
WL 1216219, at *1 (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 15, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing as moot challenge to order,
sustaining contest because appellant no longer had appeal pending for which costs due).

                                                           2
                                   COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                           JUDGMENT

                                         SEPTEMBER 2, 2020

                                         NO. 12-20-00189-CV

                   IN THE INTEREST OF M.D. AND M.D., CHILDREN

                                Appeal from the 245th District Court
                         of Harris County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 2015-69880)

                    THIS CAUSE came on to be heard on the appellate record, and the same
being considered, it is the opinion of this Court that it is without jurisdiction of the appeal, and
that the appeal should be dismissed.
                    It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED by this Court that
this appeal be, and the same is, hereby dismissed for want of jurisdiction; and that this decision
be certified to the court below for observance.
                   By per curiam opinion.
                    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.

                                                      3
                      THE STATE OF TEXAS
                         MANDATE
                     *********************************************

TO THE 245TH DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, GREETING:

       Before our Court of Appeals for the 12th Court of Appeals District of Texas, on the 2nd
day of September, 2020, the cause upon appeal to revise or reverse your judgment between

                    IN THE INTEREST OF M.D. AND M.D., CHILDREN

                       NO. 12-20-00189-CV; Trial Court No. 2015-69880

                                       By per curiam opinion.

was determined; and therein our said Court made its order in these words:

       “THIS CAUSE came on to be heard on the appellate record, and the same being
considered, it is the opinion of this Court that it is without jurisdiction of the appeal, and that the
appeal should be dismissed.

       It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED by this Court that this appeal be,
and the same is, hereby dismissed for want of jurisdiction; and that this decision be certified to
the court below for observance.”

        WHEREAS, WE COMMAND YOU to observe the order of our said Court of Appeals
for the Twelfth Court of Appeals District of Texas in this behalf, and in all things have it duly
recognized, obeyed, and executed.

        WITNESS, THE HONORABLE JAMES T. WORTHEN, Chief Justice of our Court
of Appeals for the Twelfth Court of Appeals District, with the Seal thereof affixed, at the City of
Tyler, this the xx day of August, 2020.

                       By: _______________________________
                           KATRINA MCCLENNY, CLERK

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