Opinion
A24D0061
10-02-2023
IN THE INTEREST OF K. H., A CHILD (FATHER).
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
Daniel Huertas (the "father") is the father of a minor child. On June 3, 2021, the juvenile court entered an order of permanent guardianship of the child. The father filed a timely motion for new trial, which the juvenile court denied on December 21, 2022. In June 2023, the father filed a motion to set aside, contending that he had not received proper notice of the order denying the motion for new trial. The trial court granted the motion to set aside and entered a new order denying the motion for new trial on August 4, 2023. The father has filed a timely application for discretionary review of the trial court's August 2023 order.
Under OCGA § 5-6-34 (a) (11), "[a]ll judgments or orders in child custody cases awarding, refusing to change, or modifying child custody" are directly appealable. See Lacy v. Lacy, 320 Ga.App. 739, 742 (3) (740 S.E.2d 695) (2013). Guardianship is equated with custody. See In the Interest of A. R., 309 Ga.App. 844, 845 (711 S.E.2d 402) (2011). See also OCGA § 19-9-41 (4) (defining a "child custody proceeding" as "a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is an issue"). The order in this case is thus subject to direct appeal.
This Court will grant an otherwise timely discretionary application if the lower court's order is subject to direct appeal. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (j). Accordingly, the father's application is GRANTED. He shall have ten days from the date of this order to file a notice of appeal with the trial court, if he has not already done so. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (g). The clerk of the trial court is directed to include a copy of this order in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals.