In the Interest of H. F., a Child (Father)

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ March 30, 2021 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A21A1083. IN THE INTEREST OF H. F., A CHILD (FATHER). Brandon Hembree filed a petition for legitimation of his biological child, H. F. After a hearing, the trial court entered its order denying Hembree’s petition. Hembree filed this direct appeal. We lack jurisdiction. A legitimation action is a domestic relations case, and an appeal in a domestic relations case must be initiated by filing an application for discretionary review. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (2), (b); Cloud v. Norwood, 321 Ga. App. 218, 218 ( 739 SE2d 93 ) (2013); Brown v. Williams, 174 Ga. App. 604, 604 ( 332 SE2d 48 ) (1985). “Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional.” Fitzgerald v. Department of Human Resources, 231 Ga. App. 129, 129 ( 497 SE2d 659 ) (1998) (citation and punctuation omitted). Hembree’s failure to follow the discretionary review procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. See Cloud, 321 Ga. App. at 218 . Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 03/30/2021 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.