State Ex Rel. Latty v. Owens

A party who timely appeals from the report of a family court master is entitled to a hearing de novo before the referring court. Tex.Gov’t Code § 54.012. In this case, we decide whether a district court’s order adopting a master’s report, that is signed after notice of appeal but before the required hearing, is a final appealable order. The court of appeals held that it was not. 893 S.W.2d 728. We disagree.

The State of Texas sued Kris Owens on behalf of Lorraine Latty at the request of the State of Louisiana under the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (RURESA),…