Full Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ November 04, 2026 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A27A0686. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JAMES LEE COOPER, SR. DECEASED. In this action concerning the administration of an estate, Bridget Lynn Suttles filed a direct appeal from the probate court’s order denying her “motion for clarification, ruling on in forma pauperis status, preservation of the record, and written direction before further accounting or evidentiary hearing.” We lack jurisdiction. Generally, a right of direct appeal lies from only a final judgment, that is, “where the case is no longer pending in the court below.” OCGA § 5-6-34(a)(1)(B). See also Yanes v. Escobar, 362 Ga. App. 896, 897 (870 SE2d 506) (2022) (“[A]n order is final and appealable when it leaves no issues remaining to be resolved, constitutes the court’s final ruling on the merits of the action, and leaves the parties with no further recourse in the trial court.” (quotation marks omitted)). “Where there is no final order, a party must comply with the rules for interlocutory appeal, which require obtaining a certificate of review from the trial court and permission from this [C]ourt to bring the appeal.” Smith v. Millsap, 369 Ga. App. 430, 436(2)(a) (893 SE2d 833) (2023) (citing OCGA § 5-6-34(b)). Here, because the case remains pending in the probate court, Suttles was required to comply with the interlocutory appeal procedure in order to appeal the probate court’s order. See In re Estate of Reece, 360 Ga. App. 364, 365–66 (861 SE2d 169) (2021). Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction over this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. Suttles has filed a request for clarification regarding an appeal from the same probate court case number. That appeal, A27A0537, was filed by Johnny Brett Gregory, and dismissed by this Court on October 6, 2026. See Case No. A27A0537 (Oct. 6, 2026). To the extent Suttles seeks further action by this Court in this appeal, that request is DENIED AS MOOT, given the dismissal of this appeal as explained above. Gregory has filed in this appeal an emergency motion seeking supersedeas protections, a motion to supplement the record, and a motion to expedite. Given our dismissal of this appeal, those motions are DENIED AS MOOT. Gregory’s request for sanctions against the probate court clerk is DENIED. Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 11/04/2026 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.