DISMISS and Opinion Filed December 31, 2018
Court of Appeals
S In The
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-18-01109-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF R.E. AND F.A.E., CHILDREN
On Appeal from the 255th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DF-17-06294
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Wright, Justice Evans, and Justice Brown
Opinion by Chief Justice Wright
The notice of appeal filed by Father recites he is challenging the trial court’s June 26, 2018
final judgment. Because nothing before the Court reflects a final judgment was signed on that date
or any other date, we questioned our jurisdiction over the appeal and requested briefing from the
parties. See Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001) (subject to mostly
statutory exceptions, appeal may only be taken from final judgment); see also Martinez v. Humble
Sand & Gravel, Inc., 875 S.W.2d 311, 313 (Tex. 1994) (per curiam) (appellate timetable runs from
date final order or judgment is signed). Father complied; Mother did not respond.
In his jurisdictional brief, Father explains he filed the appeal out of concern that a
memorandum ruling signed by the trial court June 26th could be construed as a final judgment.1
1
Father asserts a February 7, 2018 memorandum ruling is the final judgment and the June 26th judgment is void because it was signed outside
the trial court’s plenary power. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 329b(d),(e).
That ruling followed a bench trial, granted the parties a divorce, and described the court’s findings.
However, it required preparation of an order and cautioned that the case would be dismissed if an
order was not presented to the court for signature by a specific day. It is not a final judgment.2
See Greene v. State, 324 S.W.3d 276, 281-82 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010, no pet.) (letter to parties
describing court’s findings and asking party to prepare judgment insufficient to serve as appealable
order).
Because nothing before us reflects a final judgment has been signed, we dismiss the appeal
for want of jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a); Lehmann, 39 S.W.3d at 195.
/Carolyn Wright/
CAROLYN WRIGHT
CHIEF JUSTICE
181109F.P05
2
For the same reason, the February 7th ruling is not a final judgment.
–2–
S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
IN THE INTEREST OF R.E. AND F.A.E., On Appeal from the 255th Judicial District
CHILDREN Court, Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DF-17-06294.
No. 05-18-01109-CV Opinion delivered by Chief Justice Wright.
Justices Evans and Brown participating.
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, we DISMISS the appeal.
We ORDER appellee Maria Imelda Enriquez Torres recover her costs, if any, of this
appeal from appellant Armando Enriquez.
Judgment entered December 31, 2018.
–3–