Opinion
A21A1588
07-14-2021
ANGELA WHITTAKER v. STACEY GILLIS.
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
Following his divorce from Angela Whittaker, Stacey Gillis filed a motion for contempt against Whittaker, alleging she violated various provisions of the final judgment and decree of divorce. The trial court entered an order finding Whittaker in contempt. Whittaker filed this direct appeal from that order. The trial court's order, however, is not subject to direct appeal.
Appeals from orders in domestic relations cases, including orders holding persons in contempt, must be pursued by discretionary application. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (2). "Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional." Smoak v. Dept. of Human Res., 221 Ga.App. 257, 257 (471 S.E.2d 60) (1996).
Whittaker's failure to follow the discretionary appeal procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.