TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-02-00492-CV
Michelle McGaughy, Appellant
v.
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Appellee
NO. FM100802, HONORABLE CHARLES CAMPBELL, JUDGE PRESIDING
Appeals in termination cases have been classified as accelerated appeals since September 1, 2001. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 109.002(a) (West Supp. 2002). (2) The judgment in this cause was signed June 20, 2002. The notice of appeal was due July 10, 2002, twenty days after the judgment was signed. Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(b). Any motion for extension of time to file notice of appeal was due July 25, 2002, fifteen days after the deadline to file the notice of appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 26.3. Appellant's notice of appeal and motion for extension of time to file notice of appeal were not filed until August 2, 2002. Because the perfecting instrument and motion for extension of time were filed after the deadline for the motion for extension, we have no jurisdiction over the appeal. See Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 617 (Tex. 1997); Kinnard v. Carnahan, 25 S.W.3d 266, 268 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 2000, no pet.). The appellate court may not alter the time for perfecting an appeal in a civil case. See Tex. R. App. P. 2. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. (3) Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a).
Mack Kidd, Justice
Before Justices Kidd, Patterson and Puryear
Dismissed for Want of Jurisdiction
Filed: August 30, 2002
Do Not Publish
1. The Children's Rights Clinic, attorney ad litem for the children, also filed a motion to dismiss.
2. The statute applies to appeals in suits pending on or filed on or after September 1, 2001.
3. Appellant's motion for extension of time to file the notice of appeal is dismissed.