In Re Estate of Jeanette Baggett Davis

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ October 10, 2019

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A20A0241. IN RE ESTATE OF JEANNETTE BAGGETT DAVIS.

Janet Davis Rizzo filed a petition in Fulton County Probate Court to be appointed guardian and conservator of her aging mother, Jeannette Baggett Davis. Matthew Davis – the grandson of the proposed ward – filed an objection and moved to intervene in the action. The trial court denied the motion. Matthew Davis filed a motion for reconsideration and a motion to transfer venue to DeKalb County. The trial court denied the motion for reconsideration and dismissed the motion to transfer, finding that Matthew Davis was not a party and thus lacked standing to file the motion. Davis appealed, and Rizzo has moved to dismiss, arguing that Matthew Davis lacks standing to appeal. It appears that no final ruling has been entered and that the guardianship petition remains pending below. Under these circumstances, the trial court’s order dismissing the transfer motion is not a final appealable judgment within the meaning of OCGA § 5-6-34 (a) (1). In order to appeal, Matthew Davis was required to follow the interlocutory appeal procedures in OCGA § 5-6-34 (b). See Patel v. Georgia Power Co., 234 Ga. App. 141, 141 (2) (505 SE2d 787) (1998) (dismissing cross- appeal on the basis that the order denying a motion to transfer venue was interlocutory). His failure to do so deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. Rizzo’s motion to dismiss on standing grounds is also DISMISSED.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 10/10/2019 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.