James Patrick Phillips v. Stacey Lynn Phillips

Order filed December 4, 2012

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

____________ NO. 14-12-00897-CV ____________ JAMES PATRICK PHILLIPS, Appellant V. STACEY LYNN PHILLIPS, Appellee On Appeal from the 246th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2011-20224 ORDER

This is an appeal from a judgment signed June 22, 2012. Appellant filed a timely motion for new trial. The notice of appeal was due September 20, 2012. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.1. Appellant, however, filed his notice of appeal on September 24, 2012, a date within 15 days of the due date for the notice of appeal. A motion for extension of time is Anecessarily implied@ when the perfecting instrument is filed within fifteen days of its due date. Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 617 (Tex. 1997). Appellant did not file a motion to extend time to file the notice of appeal. While an extension may be implied, appellant is still obligated to come forward with a reasonable explanation to support the late filing. See Miller v. Greenpark Surgery Center Assocs., Ltd., 974 S.W.2d 805, 808 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 1998, no pet.).

Accordingly, we ORDER appellant to file a proper motion to extend time to file the notice of appeal within 12 days after the date of this order. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.3;12.5(b). If appellant does not comply with this order, we will dismiss the appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3.

PER CURIAM