Opinion
No. 07-20-00318-CV
12-18-2020
IN THE INTEREST OF D.C.R., A CHILD
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2 Randall County, Texas
Trial Court No. 9284-L-2 , Honorable Matthew Martindale, Presiding
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before QUINN, C.J., and PIRTLE and DOSS, JJ.
Appellant, Carlos Miguel Ramos, filed a notice of appeal from the trial court's Order in Suit to Modify Parent-Child Relationship without paying the requisite filing fee. By letter of November 16, 2020, the Clerk of this Court notified Appellant that the filing fee was overdue and that unless Appellant was excused from paying court costs under Rule of Appellate Procedure 20.1, failure to pay the filing fee by November 30 would result in dismissal of the appeal. To date, Appellant has not paid the filing fee or sought leave to proceed without payment of court costs.
Unless a party is excused from paying a filing fee, the Clerk of this Court is required to collect filing fees set by statute or by the Texas Supreme Court when an item is presented for filing. See TEX. R. APP. P. 5, 12.1(b), 20.1. Although the filing of a proper notice of appeal invokes an appellate court's jurisdiction, if a party fails to follow the prescribed rules of appellate procedure, the appeal may be dismissed. TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(b).
Because Appellant has failed to comply with a requirement of the appellate rules and a notice from the Clerk requiring action within a specified time, we dismiss the appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c).
Per Curiam