Opinion
A24A0759
01-29-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF M. R. B., A CHILD (MOTHER).
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
Stephanie Benefield filed this direct appeal of the juvenile court's order terminating her parental rights in her biological minor child, M. R. B. This Court, however, lacks jurisdiction because a party must file an application for discretionary review to seek an appeal regarding the termination of parental rights. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (12), (b); In the Interest of B. R. F., 299 Ga. 294, 296 (788 S.E.2d 416) (2016). "Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional." Booker v. Ga. Dept. of Human Resources, 317 Ga.App. 426, 427 (731 S.E.2d 110) (2012) (punctuation omitted). Thus, Benefield's failure to file a discretionary application deprives us of jurisdiction over this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.