What is an appeal?

In the court system, an appeal is when someone who loses a case asks a higher court to review a decision and change it. The person who asks for the appeal is called the appellant and the person who is on the other side of the appeal is called the respondent. Appeals are hard and have strict rules and deadlines.

The basic steps in an appeals case:

1. Find out which court decides the appeal.
2. File a Notice of Appeal to start the appeal process.
3. Ask the court to stop enforcement of the existing judgment while you are appealing. 
4. "Perfecting" the appeal: prepare for your court date. 
5. Attend your court date: this is a chance to tell the judge your story. 
6. The judge makes a decision.