Opinion
A24A1660
06-24-2024
JOSEPH KARANJA v. DORENE KARANJA.
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
After the trial court granted Dorene Karanja's petition for a 12-month protective order under the Family Violence Act, OCGA § 19-13-1 et seq., respondent Joseph Karanja filed this direct appeal. We lack jurisdiction.
Appeals of orders in domestic relations cases - including actions arising under the Family Violence Act - must be initiated by filing an application for discretionary review. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (2), (b); Schmidt v. Schmidt, 270 Ga. 461, 461-462 (1) (510 S.E.2d 810) (1999), disapproved in part on other grounds by Gilliam v. State, 312 Ga. 60, 64 (860 S.E.2d 543) (2021). "Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional." Smoak v. Dept. of Human Resources, 221 Ga.App. 257, 257 (471 S.E.2d 60) (1996). Joseph's failure to follow the required appellate procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.