Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
April 27, 2021
No. 04-21-00141-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF J.L.W., CHILDREN,
From the 37th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2020-PA-01086
Honorable Charles E. Montemayor, Judge Presiding
ORDER
On April 13, 2021, appellant filed a notice of appeal stating her intent to appeal a final
decree of termination signed “on or about March 15, 2021.” The clerk’s record was filed on
April 26, 2021. Although the clerk’s record contains the judge’s notes, the clerk’s record did not
contain an order terminating appellant’s parental rights. See In re L.H., No. 04-13-00174-CV,
2013 WL 3804585, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 17, 2013, no pet.) (noting judge’s notes
do not constitute a final order) (mem. op.). In response to this court’s inquiry, the trial court clerk
confirmed the trial court has not signed a final order. “[A]n appeal may be prosecuted only from
a final judgment.” N.E. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Aldridge, 400 S.W.2d 893, 895 (Tex. 1966). Because
no final order has been entered in the underlying case, appellant is ORDERED to show cause in
writing no later than May 7, 2021 why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of
jurisdiction.
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Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 27th day of April, 2021.
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MICHAEL A. CRUZ, Clerk of Court