Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2023

in the Interest of D.J.T., Jr., D.T., and D.J.T., Children

in the Interest of D.J.T., Jr., D.T., and D.J.T., Children
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided February 1, 2023

in the Interest of D.J.T., Jr., D.T., and D.J.T., Children

Opinion

Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-22-00838-CV IN THE INTEREST OF D.J.T., Jr., D.T., and D.J.T., Children From the 407th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2021PA01547 Honorable Kimberly Burley, Judge Presiding PER CURIAM Sitting: Rebeca C. Martinez, Chief Justice Irene Rios Justice Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice Delivered and Filed: February 1, 2023 DISMISSED Appellant appeals the trial court’s Final Order in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship. 1 The trial court signed the order on November 9, 2022. Because this is an accelerated appeal, the notice of appeal was due November 29, 2022. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(b), 28.4(a); TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 263.405(a). Although appellant filed a notice of appeal within the fifteen-day grace period allowed by Rule 26.3, she did not file a motion for extension of time.

See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3.

Appellant is the mother of the children subject to this suit. The underlying suit was initiated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (“the Department”) wherein the Department sought termination of appellant’s parental rights to her children. The trial court did not terminate appellant’s parental rights. Instead, the trial court named the children’s maternal grandmother as permanent managing conservator, named the children’s parents as joint possessory conservators, and dismissed the Department from the case.

04-22-00838-CV

A motion for extension of time is necessarily implied when an appellant, acting in good faith, files a notice of appeal beyond the time allowed by Rule 26.1 but within the fifteen-day grace period provided by Rule 26.3 for filing a motion for extension of time. See Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 617 (Tex. 1997) (construing the predecessor to rule 26). However, the appellant must offer a reasonable explanation for failing to file the notice of appeal in a timely manner. See id.; TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3, 10.5(b)(1)(C).

Therefore, on January 5, 2023, we ordered appellant to file a written response presenting a reasonable explanation for failing to file the notice of appeal in a timely manner. We cautioned that if appellant failed to respond within the time provided, the appeal would be dismissed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c) (allowing involuntary dismissal if appellant has failed to comply with a court order). Appellant has not responded to our order. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal. See id. PER CURIAM

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Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.