IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF DANIEL CARTER AND DIANA MELODY (2017)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant, Diana Melody, proceeding pro se, appeals from a final decree of divorce signed by the trial court in May of 2015. We dismiss the appeal.

Melody filed a notice of appeal without paying the requisite filing fee. By letter dated December 5, 2017, the Clerk of this Court notified Melody that unless she was excused from paying costs under Appellate Rule 20.1, failure to pay the filing fee by December 15 would result in dismissal of the appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1, 42.3(c). To date, Melody has not paid the filing fee, communicated to the Clerk that she is presumed indigent under Rule 20.1, or sought leave to proceed without payment of costs. See id. at 20.1; TEX. R. CIV. P. 145. Because Melody failed to comply with a requirement of the appellate rules and a notice from the Clerk requiring action within a specified time, we will dismiss the appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c).

Additionally, Melody filed her notice of appeal untimely. The trial court signed the divorce decree on May 14, 2015. Because Melody did not file any post-judgment motions or requests, her notice of appeal was due within thirty days, by June 15, 2015. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1, 4.1(a). Melody filed a notice of appeal on November 28, 2017. By letter of December 5, 2017, we notified Melody that her notice of appeal appeared to have been filed untimely and directed her to file a response showing grounds for continuing the appeal or the appeal would be dismissed for want of jurisdiction. Melody did not file a response to this Court's letter. A timely-filed notice of appeal is required to invoke this Court's appellate jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(b), 26.1; Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 616-17 (Tex. 1997). Because Melody's notice of appeal was not timely filed, we also dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a).

Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a), (c).

Per Curiam