Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________

January 29, 2024

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A24A0759. IN THE INTEREST OF M. R. B., A CHILD (MOTHER).

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 SE2d 416) (2016). "Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional." Booker v. Ga. Dept. of Human Resources, 317 Ga. App. 426, 427 (731 SE2d 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.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________

01/29/2024 I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.