Opinion
A21A1679
07-14-2021
GREGORY HENDERSON v. CATHY HENDERSON.
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
Cathy Henderson obtained a family violence protective order against her husband, Gregory Henderson, who then filed this direct appeal. However, appeals of orders in domestic relations cases-including actions arising under the Family Violence Act, OCGA § 19-13-1 et seq.-must be initiated by filing an application for discretionary appeal. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (2); 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, ___ Ga. ___ (Case No. S21A0941, decided June 21, 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). Gregory Henderson's failure to follow the required appellate procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.