in the Estate of F.J. Leonards

Opinion issued July 6, 2021

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas ————————————

NO. 01-20-00222-CV ———————————

IN THE ESTATE OF F.J. LEONARDS, DECEASED

On Appeal from the County Court

Chambers County, Texas

Trial Court Case No. P03986A

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellants W.J. “Billy” Devillier and Paula Winzer, independent co- executors of the estate of F.J. Leonards, seek to appeal from a pretrial order on will construction issues.

Background

The underlying litigation involves the construction of a will. On February 24, 2020, the trial court issued rulings in a “Pretrial Order on Will Construction Issues; Exculpatory Clause” and a “Pretrial Order on Will Construction Issues: Remainder Beneficiaries.” On February 26, 2020, the trial court issued a “Pretrial Order Declaring the Devisees and Shares.” The trial court entered an “Order Permitting an Accelerated Appeal” of the February orders on March 5, 2020.

Subsequently, on March 12, 2020, the Court issued an Amended Order on Will Construction Issues superseding its prior pretrial orders and permitting accelerated appeal of its amended order.

This Court has jurisdiction only over appeals from final judgments and those interlocutory orders specifically authorized by statute. See Bison Bldg. Materials, Ltd. v. Aldridge, 422 S.W.3d 582, 585 (Tex. 2012); CMH Homes v. Perez, 340 S.W.3d 444, 447–48 (Tex. 2011); see also TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 51.014 (authorizing appeals from certain interlocutory orders). The March 12, 2020 amended order is interlocutory and not subject to interlocutory appeal under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a). We dismiss all other pending motions as moot.1 PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Landau, Rivas-Molloy, and Farris.