• What is an appeal?
• Appeal Terminology
• Infraction (Traffic)
• Misdemeanor
• Felony
• Limited Civil
• Unlimited Civil
• Small Claims
• Juvenile Delinquency Appeals
• Juvenile Dependency Appeals and Writ Petitions
• Where to File Your Appeal

What is an Appeal?

An Appeal is the review of the decision of a trial court's final judgment or other legal ruling.  An appeal is not a new trial. Any party to the action requesting the higher court to review a decision made by a lower court may file an appeal.

Appeal Terminology

INFRACTION (TRAFFIC)

Timeline to Appeal:

A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the rendition of the judgment or the making of the order being appealed.  

To learn more, you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.900 – 8.929, which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for infraction cases.

Forms:

Below is the link to commonly used appeal forms for infractions.  Click on the link and choose the Category option "Appellate"

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line.  To obtain detailed information for the process of appeals on infraction cases go to http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm and review Document CR-141-INFO (Information on Appeal Procedures for Infractions)

Misdemeanor

Timeline to Appeal:

A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the rendition of the judgment or the making of the order being appealed. 

To learn more, you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.800 – 8.816 and 8.850 - 8.890, which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for misdemeanor cases.

Forms:

Below is the link to commonly used appeal forms for Misdemeanor cases.  Click on the link and choose the Category option "Appellate"

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line. To obtain detailed information for the process of appeals on Misdemeanor cases go to http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm and review Document CR-131-INFO (Information on Appeal Procedures for Misdemeanors)

Felony

Timelines to Appeal:

A Notice of appeal and any statement required by Penal Code section 1237.5 must be filed within 60 days after the rendition of the judgment or the making of the order being appealed. 

To learn more you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.300 – 8.368, which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for felony cases.

Forms: 

Below is the link to commonly used Appeal forms for Felony cases.  Click on the link and choose the Category option "Criminal".

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line.

Limited Civil

Limited Civil (Disputes involving $25,000.00 or less – includes unlawful detainers.)

Timeline to Appeal:

Rule 8.822.

(a) Normal time

(1)Unless a statute or rule 8.823 provides otherwise, a notice of appeal must be filed on or before the earliest of:

(A)30 days after the trial court clerk mails the party filing the notice of appeal a document entitled "Notice of Entry" of judgment or a file-stamped copy of the judgment, showing the date either was mailed;

(B)30 days after the party filing the notice of appeal serves or is served by a party with a document entitled "Notice of Entry" of judgment or a file-stamped copy of the judgment, accompanied by proof of service; or

(C)90 days after the entry of judgment.

(2)Service under (1)(A) and (B) may be by any method permitted by the Code of Civil Procedure, including electronic service when permitted under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and rules 2.250-2.261.

(3)If the parties stipulated in the trial court under Code of Civil Procedure section 1019.5 to waive notice of the court order being appealed, the time to appeal under (1)(C) applies unless the court or a party serves notice of entry of judgment or a file-stamped copy of the judgment to start the time period under (1)(A) or (B).

To learn more, you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.820 through 8.843 which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for limited civil cases.

Forms:

Below is the link to commonly used appeal forms for Limited Civil  cases.  Click on the link and choose the Category option "Appellate".

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line. To obtain detailed information for the process of appeals on Limited Civil cases go to http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm and review Document APP-101-INFO (Information on Appeal Procedures for Limited Civil Cases)

FEE SCHEDULE

Unlimited Civil

Unlimited civil (disputes involving more than $25,000.00 - includes unlawful detainers).  Unlimited civil also includes probate, family law, and adoptions.

Timeline to Appeal:

Rule 8.104.

(a) Normal time

(1)Unless a statute or rule 8.108 provides otherwise, a notice of appeal must be filed on or before the earliest of:

(A)60 days after the superior court clerk serves on the party filing the notice of appeal a document entitled "Notice of Entry" of judgment or a file-stamped copy of the judgment, showing the date either was served;

(B)60 days after the party filing the notice of appeal serves or is served by a party with a document entitled "Notice of Entry" of judgment or a file-stamped copy of the judgment, accompanied by proof of service; or

(C)180 days after entry of judgment.

To learn more you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.100 - 8.278, which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for unlimited civil cases.

Forms:

Below is the link to commonly used appeal forms for Limited Civil  cases.  Click on the link and choose the Category option "Appellate".

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line. To obtain detailed information for the process of appeals on Unlimited Civil cases go to http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm and review Document APP-001-INFO (Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases)

FEE SCHEDULE

SMALL CLAIMS

Small claims appeals are not filed in the appeals department. They are filed with the civil division of the Superior Court where the small claims action was initially filed.

Timeline to Appeal:

Small claims appeals are filed within 30 days after the judge made a decision/judgment. If the decision/judgment was mailed, the party has 30 days from the date the decision/judgment was mailed. The date will be reflected on the copy of the decision/judgment.
For a general guideline on the process of small claims appeals and how to appeal a decision/judgment, go to the California Courts Self-Help Center website.

FEE SCHEDULE

Juvenile Delinquency Appeals

Timelines to Appeal:

You must file a written notice of appeal within 60 days after the rendition of the judgment or the making of the order being appealed.

To learn more you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.400 – 8.474, which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for juvenile cases.

Forms:

Below is the link to commonly used appeal forms for Juvenile Delinquency cases.   Click on the link and choose the Category option "Juvenile".

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line.

Juvenile Dependency Appeals and Writ Petitions

Timelines to Appeal:

You must file a written notice of appeal within 60 days after the rendition of the judgment or the making of the order being appealed.

Timelines to file Notice of Intent to file Writ Petition:

[Regarding the setting of a hearing pursuant to W&I 366.26 - 366.28]

Rule 8.450.

The notice of intent must be filed according to the following timeline requirements:

(4)The date of the order setting the hearing is the date on which the court states the order on the record orally, or issues an order in writing, whichever occurs first. The notice of intent must be filed according to the following timeline requirements:

(A)If the party was present at the hearing when the court ordered a hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26, the notice of intent must be filed within 7 days after the date of the order setting the hearing.

(B)If the party was notified of the order setting the hearing only by mail, the notice of intent must be filed within 12 days after the date the clerk mailed the notification.

(C)If the party was notified of the order setting the hearing by mail, and the notice was mailed to an address outside California but within the United States, the notice of intent must be filed within 17 days after the date the clerk mailed the notification.

(D)If the party was notified of the order setting the hearing by mail, and the notice was mailed to an address outside the United States, the notice of intent must be filed within 27 days after the date the clerk mailed the notification.

To learn more you should read Title 8 of the California Rules of Court, Rules 8.450 – 8.470, which set forth the governing codes on the procedures for juvenile dependency cases.

Forms:

Below is the link to commonly used appeal forms for Juvenile Delinquency cases.   Click on the link and choose the Category option "Juvenile".

http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm

Any Judicial Council form can be obtained at any courthouse, county law library, or on-line.

Where to File your Appeal