TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-12-00294-CV
In the Interest of K. L. L.
FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3 OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
NO. 12-0692-FC3, HONORABLE TAMARA ARRINGTON, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On April 27, 2012, John Gilbert Nedwick filed in this Court a “Notice of Appeal from
Associate Judge’s Ruling,” which was docketed as No. 03-12-00294-CV. The notice of appeal
requested “de novo consideration of the issues presented to the Associate Judge on April 18, 2012.”
Nedwick’s relationship to K.L.L., the minor who is the subject of the underlying proceeding, is not
apparent from the notice of appeal or other documents on file herein. On May 9, 2012, Nedwick
filed a letter explaining that the notice of appeal was inadvertently filed with this Court by the
Williamson County District Clerk’s office after Nedwick filed a notice seeking an appeal de novo
of an associate judge’s rulings in a family law matter. Nedwick states that it was not his intention
to file an appeal in this Court.
The family code authorizes a trial court judge to refer certain family law matters to
associate judges. See generally Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 201.001-.209 (West 2009 & Supp. 2011).
After a hearing conducted by an associate judge, the associate judge must send his signed and dated
report, including any proposed order, to the referring court. Id. § 201.011(e). An order adopting an
associate judge’s report as the order of the court disposes of all issues and all parties and therefore
is a final judgment for purposes of appeal. See In re C.N., 313 S.W.3d 490, 492, (Tex. App.—Dallas
2010, no pet.). In this case, there is no such order. Consequently, we dismiss this appeal for want
of jurisdiction.
_____________________________________________
J. Woodfin Jones, Chief Justice
Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Pemberton and Rose
Dismissed for Want of Jurisdiction
Filed: May 25, 2012
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