in the Interest of J. M., J. J., J. J. and J. J., Children ( 2008 )

NO. 12-07-00371-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
§ APPEAL FROM THE 173RD
IN THE INTEREST OF J.M., J.J.,
§ JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF
J.J. AND J.J., CHILDREN
§ HENDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
K.L. Joyce appeals the trial court’s final order in a conservatorship and termination
proceeding brought by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (“DFPS”). In two
issues, Appellant asserts that the trial court erroneously failed to dismiss the proceeding in question
and that the evidence was insufficient to support the trial court’s final order. We affirm.
APPELLATE REVIEW OF SUBCHAPTER E FINAL ORDERS
Chapter 263, subchapter E, of the Texas Family Code governs final orders in conservatorship
and termination proceedings in cases involving children under DFPS care. See In re A.J.K., 116
S.W.3d 165, 169-70 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, no pet.). As applicable to this appeal,
a final order under subchapter E is one that (1) requires the child to be returned to the child’s parent;
(2) names a relative of the child or another person as the child’s managing conservator; (3) without
terminating the parent-child relationship, appoints DFPS as the managing conservator of the child;
or (4) terminates the parent-child relationship and appoints a relative of the child, another suitable
person, or DFPS as managing conservator of the child. See id. at 170-71 (addressing repealed Texas
Family Code section 263.401(d)). Here, the final order terminated the parent-child relationship
between Joyce and four children under DFPS care and appointed DFPS as managing conservator of
the children. Therefore, this order is a final order rendered under subchapter E. See id.
Texas Family Code section 263.405 requires an appellant seeking review of a subchapter E
final order to file with the trial court, no later than fifteen days after the final order is signed, a
statement of points on which the appellant intends to appeal. TEX . FAM . CODE ANN . § 263.405(b)
(Vernon Supp. 2007).1 The statement may be filed separately or may be combined with a motion
for new trial. Id. An appellate court may not consider any issue that was not specifically presented
to the trial court in a timely filed statement of points. TEX . FAM . CODE ANN . § 263.405(i) (Vernon
Supp. 2007). While a statement of points may be combined with a motion for new trial, a motion for
new trial that does not include such a statement of points is not sufficient to allow appellate review
of a subchapter E final order. See id.
The final order in this case was signed on September 12, 2007, following which Appellant
filed a motion for new trial. Appellant did not file the required statement of points separately or
include a statement of points in her motion for new trial. Accordingly, we cannot consider any of
the issues Appellant has raised on appeal. See id. Further, the constitutionality of section 263.405’s
statement of points requirement is not before us and we have not previously addressed such an issue
on its merits.2
DISPOSITION
We cannot consider the issues Appellant has raised on appeal. Therefore, we affirm the trial
court’s order.
BRIAN HOYLE
Justice
Opinion delivered June 30, 2008.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
(PUBLISH)
1
Because it is unnecessary to do otherwise, we have cited to the most current version of this statute.
2
W e have twice declined to address this issue of constitutionality because the concerns brought by the
respective appellants were merely hypothetical and not yet ripe. See In re T.D.M ., No. 12-07-00458-CV, 2008 W L
2122601, at *2 (Tex. App.–Tyler M ay 21, 2008, no pet. h.); In re R.D.G., No. 12-07-00322-CV, 2008 W L 2122413,
at *2 (Tex. App.–Tyler May 21, 2008, no pet. h.).
2