JOHN MAUZY PITTMAN
APPEAL FROM THE LONOKE
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
[NO. JV-2011-68]
HONORABLE BARBARA ELMORE,
JUDGE
APPEAL DISMISSED
JOHN MAUZY PITTMAN , Judge
Appellant seeks to appeal an order terminating her parental rights to her three minor children. We dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.
The requirements of a notice of appeal in dependency-neglect proceedings differ from normal procedure in that Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9(b)(1)(B) requires that the notice of appeal and designation of record be signed not only by appellant's counsel but also by the appellant herself if, as here, she is an adult. A notice of appeal in such cases that lacks the signature of the appellant is deficient. Martin v. Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services, 369 Ark. 477, 255 S.W.3d 830 (2007). Not every defect in a notice of appeal will deprive the appellate court of jurisdiction, see Evins v. Carvin, 2012 Ark. App. 622, but the Arkansas Supreme Court has required strict compliance with the appellant-signature requirement of Rule 6-9(b)(1)(B). See, e.g., S.F. v. Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services, 370 Ark. 475, 261 S.W.3d 462 (2007).
Although we must dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction, we note that the Arkansas Supreme Court may grant a motion for belated appeal under certain circumstances. See Garcia v. Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services, 374 Ark. 144, 286 S.W.3d 674 (2008); S.F. v. Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services, supra; Ark. R. App. P.—Crim. 2(e).
Appeal dismissed.
GLADWIN, C.J., and VAUGHT, J., agree.
Charles D. Hancock, for appellant.
Tabitha Baertels McNulty, County Legal Operations, for appellee.
Chrestman Group, PLLC, by: Keith Chrestman, attorney ad litem for minor children.