In the Interest of J.F., a Child v. the State of Texas
CourtTexas Court of Appeals, 2nd District (Fort Worth)
Date FiledJuly 23, 2026
Docket02-26-00404-CV
StatusPublished
📰 News Coverage: Read the LAWS.com news report on this case
Full Opinion
In the
Court of Appeals
Second Appellate District of Texas
at Fort Worth
___________________________
No. 02-26-00404-CV
___________________________
IN THE INTEREST OF J.F., A CHILD
On Appeal from the 322nd District Court
Tarrant County, Texas
Trial Court No. 322-740713-23
Before Womack, Wallach, and Walker, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Womack
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant B.F. attempts to appeal from the trial court’s “Order in Suit
Affecting the Parent–Child Relationship” signed on February 11, 2026 (the Order).
Because B.F. timely filed a motion for new trial, his notice of appeal was due May 12,
2026—ninety days after the Order’s signing. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a)(1). But B.F.
did not file his notice of appeal until June 17, 2026, making it untimely. See id.
On June 19, 2026, we notified the parties by letter of our concern that we lack
jurisdiction over this appeal because the notice of appeal was untimely. See id. We
warned that we could dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction unless B.F. or any
party wanting to continue the appeal filed a response by June 29, 2026, showing
grounds for continuing it. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), 44.3. We have received no
response.
The time for filing a notice of appeal is jurisdictional in this court, and without
a timely filed notice of appeal or a timely filed extension request, we must dismiss the
appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 2, 25.1(b), 26.1, 26.3; Jones v. City of Houston, 976 S.W.2d
676, 677 (Tex. 1998); Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 617 (Tex. 1997). Because
B.F.’s notice of appeal was untimely, we dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.
See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), 43.2(f); In re N.G., No. 02-25-00668-CV, 2026 WL 70846,
at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 8, 2026, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“Because L.G.’s
notice of appeal was untimely, we dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.”).
2
/s/ Dana Womack
Dana Womack
Justice
Delivered: July 23, 2026
3