In the Interest of J.F.M., a Child Appeal from 223rd District Court of Gray County (memorandum opinion per curiam)

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In The Court of Appeals Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo No. 07-16-00415-CV IN THE INTEREST OF J.F.M., A CHILD On Appeal from the 223rd District Court Gray County, Texas Trial Court No. 38,527, Honorable Phil N. Vanderpool, Presiding December 29, 2016 MEMORANDUM OPINION Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ. Appellant, S.L.M., filed a notice of appeal in the above-referenced cause without paying the requisite filing fee. By letter dated November 9, 2016, the Clerk of this Court notified S.L.M. that failure to pay the filing fee within ten days could result in dismissal of the appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c). The filing fee was not paid. Instead, on November 28, 2016, S.L.M.’s retained counsel filed a motion to withdraw, citing a breach of the fee agreement and lack of communication with S.L.M. as cause. On December 8, 2016, we granted counsel’s motion to withdraw. By letter that same day sent to S.L.M.’s last known address, the Clerk notified her that failure to pay the filing fee by December 19 would result in dismissal of the appeal. The Clerk also informed S.L.M. that she could file a statement of inability to afford payment of court costs if she could not afford to pay the filing fee. See TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1(c). To date, S.L.M. has neither paid the filing fee, communicated to the Clerk that she is presumed indigent under Rule 20.1, nor sought leave to proceed without payment of costs. Because S.L.M. 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. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c). Per Curiam 2

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