Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases is a commonly used form within California. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Explains the steps to begin and complete an appeal of a trial court in an unlimited civil case (generally a case for more than $25,000 or a case from family, juvenile, or probate court). It includes links to online resources to help understand each step in the appeal process.

Atticus Fast Facts About Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases:

• This form pertains to the State of California

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about California’s Form APP-001-INFO - Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct California form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some California probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form APP-001-INFO, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in CA are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form APP-001-INFO online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form APP-001-INFO witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in California.

5 reasons you should submit APP-001-INFO as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster California can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in California. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of California is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for California probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local California probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form APP-001-INFO, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some California probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within California.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form APP-001-INFO - Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the California probate court office.

Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any California-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on California Form APP-001-INFO - Information On Appeal Procedures For Unlimited Civil Cases. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

For information about appeal procedures in other kinds of cases, see: · Information on Appeal Procedures for Limited Civil Cases (form APP-101-INFO ) · Information on Appeal Procedures for Infractions (form CR-141-INFO ) · Information on Appeal Procedures for Misdemeanors (form CR-131-INFO ) You can get these forms at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms . Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases Judicial Council of California, www.courts.ca.gov New January 1, 2019, Optional Form Cal. Rules of Court, rules 8.100-8.278 APP-001-INFO, Page 1 of 16 APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases 1 GENERAL INFORMATION What does this information sheet cover? This information sheet tells you about appeals in unlimited civil cases. These are civil cases in which the amount of money claimed is more than $25,000, as well as other types of cases, such as those filed in family court, probate court, and juvenile court. 2 If you are the party who is appealing (asking for the trial court’s decision to be reviewed), you are called the APPELLANT, and you should read “Information for the Appellant,” starting on page 3. If you received notice that another party in your case is appealing, you are called the RESPONDENT and you should read “Information for the Respondent,” starting on page 13. This information sheet does not cover everything you may need to know about appeals in unlimited civil cases. It gives you a general idea of the appeal process. To learn more: Read rules 8.100 –8.278 of the California Rules of Court, which set out the procedures for unlimited civil appeals. You can get these rules at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/rules . Read the local rules and find out about self-help resources for the district in which you filed your appeal at www.courts.ca.gov/courtsofappeal.htm . Visit the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-appeals.htm . What is an appeal? An appeal is a request to a higher court to review a decision made by a judge or jury in the superior court. In an unlimited civil case, the court hearing the appeal is the Court of Appeal for the district in which the superior court is located. The lower court—called the “trial court” in this information sheet—is the superior court. l l l l Review the counties included in each appellate district at www.courts.ca.gov/documents/appdistmap.pdf. It is important to understand that an appeal is NOT a new trial. The Court of Appeal will not consider new evidence, such as the testimony of new witnesses or new exhibits. The appellate court’s job is to review a record of what happened in the trial court and the trial court’s decision to see if certain kinds of legal errors were made. Who can appeal? Only a party in the trial court case can appeal a decision in that case. You may not appeal on behalf of a friend, a spouse, a child, or another relative unless you are a legally appointed representative of that person (such as the person’s guardian or conservator). Can I appeal any decision the trial court made? No. Generally, you can only appeal the final judgment— the decision at the end that decides the whole case. Other rulings made by the trial court before the final judgment generally cannot be separately appealed but can be reviewed only later as part of an appeal of the final judgment. There are a few exceptions to this general rule. Code of Civil Procedure section 904.1 lists a few types of orders in an unlimited civil case that can be appealed right away. These include orders that: Grant a motion to quash service of summons or grant a motion to stay or dismiss the action on the ground of inconvenient forum. l Grant a new trial or deny a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Discharge or refuse to discharge an attachment or grant a right to attach. Grant or dissolve an injunction or refuse to grant or dissolve an injunction. Note: Injunctions include restraining orders. l l l 3 4 Appoint a receiver. Are made after final judgment in the case. l l New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 2 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases (You can view Code of Civil Procedure section 904.1 using the link below: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml .) You should consult with a lawyer or a court self-help center to determine if your order is final and appealable. Go to www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-selfhelpcenters.htm to find information about the self-help center in your county. Are made appealable by the Family Code or the Probate Code. l 6 Do I need a lawyer to represent me in an appeal? You do not have to have a lawyer; if you are an individual (rather than a corporation, for example), you are allowed to represent yourself in an appeal in an unlimited civil case. But appeals can be complicated and you will have to follow the same rules that lawyers have to follow. If you have any questions about the appeal procedures, you should talk to a lawyer. If you decide not to use a lawyer, you must put your address, telephone number, fax number (if available), and e-mail address (if available) on the first page of every document you file with the court. However, if you need to keep your contact information private (for instance, in an appeal involving a domestic violence restraining order), you may give a different mailing address instead. But if you use a different address, be sure to check it regularly to stay informed about your case and about your obligations regarding your case. You must keep the Court of Appeal, the trial court (if the trial court proceedings continue or are expected to continue), and the other parties in your case informed of any change in your contact information for service of notices and other documents relating to the appeal. 5 What does the appellant need to prove to win on appeal? The appellant must prove that an error in the trial court proceedings was made and that the error affected the outcome of the court’s or jury’s decision. An error that affected the outcome of the case is called a “prejudicial error.” An error can include things like errors made by the judge about the law, errors or misconduct by the lawyers or by the jury, incorrect instructions given to the jury, or insufficient evidence to support the judgment, order, or other decision being appealed. Note: This is not a complete list of all possible errors. When the appellant argues that the error was based on insufficient evidence to support the judgment or other decision being appealed, the Court of Appeal will determine whether there was “substantial evidence” to support the judgment, order, or other decision being appealed. But in conducting its review, the Court of Appeal only looks to see if there was evidence that reasonably supports the decision. The Court of Appeal generally will not reconsider the jury's or the trial court's conclusions about which side had more or stronger evidence or whether witnesses were believable. It only determines whether the evidence is sufficient to support the judgment, order, or other decision. The Court of Appeal will generally not overturn the judgment, order, or other decision being appealed unless the record shows a prejudicial error was made. The winning party does not have to prove that the judgment, order, or other decision was correct. Instead, it is up to the appellant to prove that the error was made and that the error affected the outcome of the case. 7 Where can I find a lawyer to help me with my appeal? You have to hire your own lawyer if you want one. You can get information about finding a lawyer on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-lowcosthelp.htm in the Getting Started section. For your trial court case, you may complete Notice of Change of Address or Other Contact Information ( form MC-040 ), file it in the trial court, and have it served on the parties in the case. For your case in the Court of Appeal, you may refer to form MC-040 as an example of the information that you need to include in a notice regarding the change in your contact information. That notice must be filed in the Court of Appeal and served on the parties in the appellate case. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 3 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases 9 How do I “serve and file” the notice of appeal? “Serve and file” means that you must: Have somebody over 18 years old mail, deliver, or electronically send (“serve”) the notice of appeal to the other party or parties in the way required by law. If the notice of appeal is mailed or personally delivered, it must be by someone who is not a party to the case—so not you. l Make a record that the notice of appeal has been served. This record is called a “proof of service.” Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009) or Proof of Electronic Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009E) can be used to make this record. The proof of service must show who served the notice of appeal, who was served with the notice of appeal, how the notice of appeal was served (by mail, in person, or electronically), and the date the notice of appeal was served. l First, you must serve and file a notice of appeal. The notice of appeal tells the other party or parties in the case and the trial court that you are appealing the trial court’s decision. You may use Notice of Appeal/Cross-Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-002 ) to prepare a notice of appeal in an unlimited civil case. You can get form APP-002 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www. courts.ca.gov/forms.htm. 8 How do I start my appeal? You can get more information about how to serve court papers and proof of service from Information Sheet for Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009-INFO ) and on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-serving.htm . If a notice of appeal has been filed in a case, any other party to the case may file its own appeal from the same judgment or order. This is called a “cross-appeal.” If the clerk or a party served neither of these documents, the notice of appeal must be filed within 180 days after entry of judgment or appealable order (generally, the date the judgment or appeable order is file-stamped). This deadline for filing the notice of appeal cannot be extended. If your notice of appeal is late, the Court of Appeal will not be able to consider your appeal. To cross-appeal, a party must file a notice of appeal within either the regular time for filing a notice of appeal or within 20 days after the clerk of the superior court mails notice of the first appeal, whichever is later. A party that wishes to cross-appeal may use Notice of Appeal/Cross- Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-002 ) to file this notice in an unlimited civil case. 10 Is there a deadline to serve and file my notice of appeal? Yes. Generally, in an unlimited civil case, the notice of appeal must be served on the other party or parties in the case and filed with the clerk of the superior court within 60 days after the trial court clerk or a party serves either (1) a document called a “Notice of Entry” of the trial court judgment or appealable order or (2) a file-stamped copy of the judgment or appealable order. Bring or send (by mail or electronically) the original notice of appeal and the proof of service to the trial court that issued the judgment, order, or other decision you are appealing. You should make a copy of the notice of appeal you are planning to file for your own records before you file it with the court. l 11 Yes. Unless the court waives this fee, you must pay a fee for filing your notice of appeal. You can ask the clerk of the court where you are filing the notice of appeal what the fee is or look up the fee for an appeal in an unlimited civil case in the current Statewide Civil Fee Schedule at www. courts.ca.gov/7646.htm (see the “Appeal and Writ Related Fees” section near the end of the schedule). Do I have to pay a fee to file a notice of appeal? Unless you are filing electronically, it is a good idea to bring or mail an extra copy of the notice of appeal to the clerk when you file your original and ask the clerk to stamp this copy to show that the original has been filed. INFORMATION FOR THE APPELLANT This part of the information sheet is written for the appellant—the party who is appealing the trial court’s decision. It explains some of the rules and procedures relating to appealing a decision in an unlimited civil case. The information may also be helpful to the respondent. Additional information for respondents can be found starting on page 13 of this information sheet. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 4 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. To do this, you must fill out and file a Request to Waive Court Fees (form FW-001 ). You can get form FW-001 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms . You can file this application either before you file your notice of appeal or with your notice of appeal. The court will review this application to determine if you are eligible for a fee waiver. In most cases, if the trial court denies your request for a stay, you can apply to the Court of Appeal for a stay. If you do not get a stay and you do not do what the trial court ordered you to do, court proceedings to collect the money or otherwise enforce the judgment or order may be started against you. If I file a notice of appeal, do I still have to do what the trial court ordered me to do? Filing a notice of appeal does NOT automatically postpone most judgments or orders, such as those requiring you to pay another party money, deliver property to another party, or comply with child custody or visitation orders (see Code of Civil Procedure sections 917.1–917.9 and 1176 ; you can get a copy of these laws at www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov /faces/codes.xhtml). These kinds of judgments or orders will be postponed, or “stayed,” only if you request a stay and the court grants your request or some other procedure authorizes a stay (such as filing a bond in appropriate cases). What do I need to do after I file my notice of appeal? Within 15 days after the trial court clerk mails a notice that a notice of appeal has been filed in an unlimited civil case, the appellant must serve and file in the Court of Appeal a completed Civil Case Information Statement (form APP-004 ), attaching a copy of the judgment or appealed order that shows the date it was entered. See rules 8.100 and 8.104 of the California Rules of Court. Within 10 days of filing the notice of appeal, the appellant must tell the trial court in writing (designate) what documents and oral proceedings, if any, to include in the record that will be sent to the Court of Appeal. You will need to designate all parts of the record that the Court of Appeal will need to decide the issues you raised in the appeal. You can use Appellant’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-003 ) to designate the record in an unlimited civil case. You can get form APP-003 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm . Bring or send (by mail or electronically) the original notice and the proof of service to the trial court that issued the judgment, order, or other decision you are appealing. You should make a copy of the notice you are planning to file for your own records before you file it with the court. Unless you are filing electronically, it is a good idea to bring or mail an extra copy of the notice to the clerk when you file your original and ask the clerk to stamp this copy to show that the original has been filed. You must serve and file this notice designating the record on appeal within 10 days after you file your notice of appeal. “Serving and filing” this notice means that you must: Have somebody over 18 years old mail, deliver, or electronically send (serve) the notice to the other party or parties in the way required by law. If the notice is mailed or personally delivered, it must be by someone who is not a party to the case—-so not you. l Make a record that the notice has been served. This record is called a “proof of service.” Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009 ) or Proof of Electronic Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009E) can be used to make this record. The proof of service must show who served the notice, who was served with the notice, how the notice was served (by mail, in person, or electronically), and the date the notice was served. l l In addition, since the Court of Appeal justices were not there to see what happened in the trial court, an official record of what happened must be prepared and sent to the Court of Appeal for its review. 13 12 14 Contents: Certain documents, such as the notice of appeal and the trial court judgment or order being appealed, must be included in the clerk’s transcript or appendix. These documents are listed in rule 8.122(b) and rule 8.124(b) of the California Rules of Court and in Appellant’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-003 ). What is the official record of the trial court proceedings? Completion and delivery: After the cost of preparing the clerk’s transcript has been paid or waived, the trial court clerk will compile the requested documents into a transcript format and, when the record on appeal is complete, will forward the original clerk’s transcript to the Court of Appeal for filing. The trial court clerk will send you a copy of the transcript. If the respondent bought a copy, the clerk will also send a copy of the transcript to the respondent. l A clerk’s transcript or an appendix, l l l l l New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 5 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases There are three parts of the official record: A record of the documents filed in the trial court (other than exhibits); A record of what was said in the trial court (this is called the “oral proceedings”); and Exhibits that were admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged (temporarily placed with the court) in the trial court. Read below for more information about these parts of the record. a.Record of the documents filed in the trial court The first part of the official record of the trial court proceedings is a record of the documents that were filed in the trial court. There are three ways in which a record of the documents filed in the trial court can be prepared for the Court of Appeal: The original trial court file, or An agreed statement. Read below for more information about these options. (1)Clerk's transcript or appendix Description: A clerk’s transcript is a compilation of the documents filed in the trial court that is prepared by the trial court clerk. An appendix is a compilation of these documents prepared by a party. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.124 .) Clerk’s transcript. If you want any documents other than those listed in rule 8.122(b) to be included in the clerk’s transcript, you must tell the trial court in your notice designating the record on appeal. You can use form APP-003 to do this. You will need to identify each document you want included in the clerk’s transcript by its title and filing date or, if you do not know the filing date, the date the document was signed. If you (the appellant) request a clerk’s transcript, the respondent also has the right to ask the clerk to include additional documents in the clerk’s transcript. If this happens, you will be served with a notice saying what other documents the respondent wants included in the clerk’s transcript. Cost: The appellant is responsible for paying for preparing a clerk’s transcript. The trial court clerk will send you a bill for the cost of preparing an original and one copy of the clerk’s transcript. You must do one of the following three things within 10 days after the clerk sends this bill or the Court of Appeal may dismiss your appeal: l Pay the bill. l Ask the trial court to waive the cost because you cannot afford to pay. To do this, you must fill out and file a Request to Waive Court Fees (form FW-001 ). You can get form FW-001 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms. htm. The trial court will review this application to determine if you are eligible for a fee waiver. Give the trial court a copy of a court order showing that your fees in this case have already been waived by the court. l You can get more information about how to serve court papers and proof of service from Information Sheet for Proof of Service (form APP-009-INFO) and on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts .ca.gov/selfhelp-serving.htm. Cost: As with a clerk’s transcript, the appellant is responsible for paying for preparing the trial court file. The trial court clerk will send you a bill for this preparation cost. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 6 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases Appendix: If you choose to prepare an appendix of the documents filed in the superior court, rather than designating a clerk’s transcript, that appendix must include all of the documents and be prepared in the form required by rule 8.124 of the California Rules of Court. The parties may prepare separate appendixes or stipulate (agree) to a joint appendix. If separate appendixes are prepared, each party must pay for its own appendix. If a joint appendix is prepared, the parties can agree on how the cost of preparing the appendix will be paid or the appellant will pay the cost. The party preparing the appendix must serve the appendix on each other party (unless the parties have agreed or the Court of Appeal has ordered otherwise) and file the appendix in the Court of Appeal. The appellant’s appendix or a joint appendix must be served and filed with the appellant’s opening brief. See for information about the brief. 16 (2)Trial court file When available: If the Court of Appeal has a local rule allowing this, and the parties agree, the clerk can send the Court of Appeal the original trial court file instead of a clerk’s transcript as a record of documents filed in the trial court (see rule 8.128 of the California Rules of Court). Completion and delivery: After the cost of preparing the trial court file has been paid or waived and the record on appeal is complete, the trial court clerk will number the pages and send the file and a list of the documents in the file to the Court of Appeal. The trial court clerk will also send a copy of the list of documents to the appellant and respondent so that you can put your own files of documents from the trial court in the correct order and number the pages. Agreed statement(3) Description: An agreed statement is a summary of the trial court proceedings agreed to by the parties. (See rule 8.134 of the California Rules of Court.) You must do one of the following things within 10 days after the clerk sends this bill or the Court of Appeal may dismiss your appeal: l Pay the bill. l Ask the trial court to waive the cost because you cannot afford to pay. To do this, you must fill out and file a Request to Waive Court Fees (form FW-001 ). You can get form FW-001 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.court.ca.gov/forms . The trial court will review this application to determine if you are eligible for a fee waiver. Preparation: If you elect to use this option, you must file either (1) an agreed statement or (2) a written agreement (called a “stipulation”) that the parties are trying to agree on a statement, along with your notice designating the record on appeal. If you file the stipulation and the parties agree on a statement, you must file the statement within 40 days after filing the notice of appeal. If you file the stipulation and the parties cannot agree on the statement, you must file a new notice designating the record within 50 days after filing the notice of appeal. The statement should include only those facts that you and the other parties think are needed to decide the appeal. Contents: An agreed statement must explain what the trial court case was about, describe why the Court of Appeal is the right court to consider an appeal in this case (why the Court of Appeal has “jurisdiction”), and describe the rulings of the trial court relating to the points to be raised on appeal. When available: If the trial court proceedings were not recorded by a court reporter or if you do not want to use that option, you can choose (elect) to use an agreed statement as the record of the oral proceedings. Please note that it may take more of your time to prepare an agreed statement than to use a reporter’s transcript, if it is available. Give the trial court a copy of a court order showing that your fees in this case have already been waived by the court. l If you elect to use a reporter’s transcript, the respondent also has the right to designate additional proceedings to be included in the reporter’s transcript. If you elect to proceed l l New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 7 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases Record of what was said in the trial court (the “oral proceedings”) b. The second part of the official record of the trial court proceedings is a record of what was said in the trial court (this is called a record of the “oral proceedings”). You do not have to send the Court of Appeal a record of the oral proceedings. But if you want to raise any issue in your appeal that would require the Court of Appeal to consider what was said in the trial court, the Court of Appeal will need a record of those oral proceedings. For example, if you are claiming that there was not substantial evidence supporting the judgment, order, or other decision you are appealing, the Court of Appeal will presume there was substantial evidence unless it has a record of the oral proceedings. You are responsible for deciding how the record of the oral proceedings will be provided and, depending on what option you select and your circumstances, you may also be responsible for paying for preparing this record or for preparing an initial draft of the record. If you do not take care of these responsibilities, a record of the oral proceedings in the trial court will not be prepared and sent to the Court of Appeal. If the Court of Appeal does not receive this record, you may forfeit your arguments on appeal, or the Court of Appeal may make presumptions in favor of the judgment or order. There are three ways in which a record of the oral proceedings can be prepared for the Court of Appeal: If you or the other party arranged to have a court reporter present during the trial court proceedings, the reporter can prepare a record, called a “reporter’s transcript.” l You can use an agreed statement. You can use a settled statement. Read below for more information about these options. Reporter’s transcript (1) Description: A reporter’s transcript is a written record (sometimes called a “verbatim” record) of the oral proceedings in the trial court prepared by a court reporter. Rule 8.130 of the California Rules of Court establishes the requirements for reporter's transcripts. When available: If a court reporter was present in the trial court and made a record of the oral proceedings, you can choose (elect) to have the court reporter prepare a reporter’s transcript for the Court of Appeal. But a court reporter might not have been present unless you or another party in your case had made specific arrangements to have a court reporter present. If you are unsure, check with the trial court to see if a court reporter made a record of the oral proceedings in your case before choosing this option. Contents: If you elect to use a reporter’s transcript, you must identify by date (this is called “designating”) what proceedings you want to be included in the reporter’s transcript. You can use the same form you used to tell the court you wanted to use a reporter’s transcript— Appellant’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-003 )— to do this. Important! The type of record of the oral proceedings that you choose, including a reporter's transcript or a settled statement, should be carefully considered, as it may affect your appeal. You should consult with a lawyer to determine the best option in your case. In an unlimited civil case, you can use Appellant’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-003 ) to tell the trial court whether you want a record of the oral proceedings and, if so, the form of the record that you want to use. You can get form APP-003 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov /forms . New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 8 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases If you are unable to pay the cost of a reporter’s transcript, a record of the oral proceedings can be prepared in other ways, by using an agreed statement or a settled statement, which are described below. without a reporter’s transcript, however, the respondent may not designate a reporter’s transcript without first getting an order from the Court of Appeal. Cost: The appellant is responsible for paying for preparing a reporter’s transcript. The trial court clerk or the court reporter will notify you of the cost of preparing an original and one copy of the reporter’s transcript. You must deposit payment for this cost (and a fee for the trial court) or one of the substitutes allowed by rule 8.130 with the trial court clerk within 10 days after this notice is sent. (See rule 8.130 for more information about this deposit and the permissible substitutes, such as a waiver of this deposit signed by the court reporter.) Unlike the fee for filing the notice of appeal and the costs for preparing a clerk’s transcript, the court cannot waive the fee for preparing a reporter’s transcript. Money from a special fund, called the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, may be available to help you pay for the transcript. You can get information about this fund at www.courtreportersboard.ca.gov/consumers /index.shtml#rtf . Agreed statement(2) Completion and delivery: After the cost of preparing the reporter’s transcript or a permissible substitute has been deposited, the court reporter will prepare the transcript and submit it to the trial court clerk. When the record is complete, the trial court clerk will submit the original transcript to the Court of Appeal and send you a copy of the transcript. If the respondent has purchased it, a copy of the reporter’s transcript will also be mailed to the respondent. When available: If the trial court proceedings were not recorded by a court reporter or if you do not want to use that option, you can choose (elect) to use an agreed statement as the record of the oral proceedings. Please note that it may take more of your time to prepare an agreed statement than to use a reporter’s transcript, if it is available. Description: An agreed statement is a written summary of the trial court proceedings agreed to by all the parties. See rule 8.134 of the California Rules of Court. The statement should include only those facts that you and the other parties think are needed to decide the appeal. Contents: An agreed statement must explain what the trial court case was about, describe why the Court of Appeal is the right court to consider an appeal in this case (why the Court of Appeal has “jurisdiction”), and describe the rulings of the trial court relating to the points to be raised on appeal. Preparation: If you elect to use this option, you must file either (1) an agreed statement or (2) a written agreement (called a “stipulation”) that the parties are trying to agree on a statement, along with your notice designating the record on appeal. If you file the stipulation and the parties agree on a statement, you must file the statement within 40 days after filing the notice of appeal. If you file the stipulation and the parties cannot agree on the statement, you must file a new notice designating the record within 50 days after filing the notice of appeal. Settled statement(3) Description: A settled statement is a summary of the trial court proceedings that is approved by the trial court judge who conducted those proceedings (the term “judge” includes commissioners, referees, hearing officers, and temporary judges). When available: Under rule 8.137 of the California Rules of Court, you can choose (elect) to use a settled statement as the record of the oral New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 9 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases proceedings if (1) the trial court proceedings were not recorded by a court reporter or (2) if you have an order waiving your court fees and costs. Please note that it may take more of your time to prepare a settled statement than to use a reporter’s transcript, if it is available. l A statement of the points you (the appellant) are raising on appeal; l A condensed narrative of the oral proceedings that you specified in the notice designating the record on appeal or motion. The condensed narrative is a summary of the testimony of each witness and other evidence that is relevant to the issues you are raising on appeal; and A copy of the judgment or order you are appealing attached to the settled statement. l Preparing a proposed settled statement: If you elect to use a settled statement, you must prepare a proposed settled statement. You may use Appellant’s Proposed Settled Statement (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-014 ) to prepare your proposed statement. You can get the form at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms . If you want to use a settled statement as the record of the oral proceedings for reasons other than the two previously mentioned, you must file a motion to ask the trial court for an order. You may use Appellant’s Motion to Use a Settled Statement (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-025) for this purpose. Read rule 8.137 about the requirements of your motion or request for order. Contents: A settled statement must include: (See rule 8.137 of the California Rules of Court for more information about what must be included in a settled statement and the procedures for preparing a statement. You can get a copy of this rule at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/rules .) l Have somebody over 18 years old mail, deliver, or electronically send (serve) the proposed settled statement to the respondent in the way required by law. If the proposed statement is mailed or personally delivered, it must be by someone who is not a party to the case—so not you. l Make a record that the proposed settled statement has been served. This record is called a “proof of service.” Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009 ) or Proof of Electronic Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009E) can be used to make this record. The proof of service must show who served the proposed statement, who was served with the proposed statement, how the proposed statement was served (by mail, in person, or electronically), and the date the proposed statement was served. File the original proposed settled statement and the proof of service with the trial court. You should make a copy of the proposed statement you are planning to file for your own records before you file it with the court. Unless you are filing electronically, it is a good idea to bring or mail an extra copy of the proposed statement to the clerk when you file your original and ask the clerk to stamp this copy to show that the original has been filed. l Serving and filing a proposed settled statement: You must serve and file the proposed statement within 30 days after filing your notice electing to use a settled statement or within 30 days after the trial court clerk sends, or a party serves, the order granting the motion to use a settled statement. “Serve and file” means that you must: You can get more information about how to serve court papers and proof of service from Information Sheet for Proof of Service (form APP-009-INFO ) and on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov /selfhelp-serving.htm . New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 10 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases l Proposed changes (called “amendments”) to the proposed statement; or l If the oral proceedings in the trial court were reported by a court reporter, a notice indicating that the respondent is electing to provide a reporter’s transcript instead of proceeding with a settled statement. Respondent’s review: The respondent has 20 days from the date you serve your proposed settled statement to serve and file either: Review of appellant’s proposed settled statement: If the respondent proposes changes, the trial court judge then reviews both your proposed statement and the respondent’s proposed amendments. The trial judge will either make or order you (the appellant) to make any corrections or modifications to the statement that are needed to make sure that the statement provides an accurate summary of the testimony and other evidence relevant to the issues you indicated you are raising on appeal. For more information, see rule 8.137(f) of the California Rules of Court. See also rule 8.140, which explains the consequences for a party’s failure to make corrections that are ordered to be made to the proposed statement. Request for hearing to review proposed settled statement: No later than 10 days after the respondent files proposed amendments, or the time to do so has expired, a party may request a hearing to review and correct the proposed statement. No hearing will be held unless ordered by the trial court judge. A judge will not ordinarily order a hearing unless there is a factual dispute about a material aspect of the trial court proceeding. If there is a hearing, see rule 8.137 for more information. Additional review procedures: If there is no hearing after the respondent proposes changes to the settled statement, and if the judge makes any corrections or modifications to the proposed statement, the corrected or modified statement will be sent to you and the respondent for your review. If the judge orders you to make any corrections or modifications to the proposed statement, you must serve and file the corrected or modified statement within the time ordered by the judge. See rule 8.140 , which explains the consequences for a party’s failure to make corrections to the proposed statement. If you or the respondent disagree with anything in the modified or corrected statement, you have 10 days from the date the modified or corrected statement is sent to you to serve and file proposed amendments or objections to the statement. The judge then reviews the modified or corrected statement and any proposed modifications. If the judge decides that further corrections or modifications are necessary, the review process described above takes place again. Completion and certification: If the judge does not order any corrections or modifications to the proposed statement, the judge must promptly certify the statement as an accurate summary of the evidence and testimony of each witness relevant to the issues you indicated you are raising on appeal. Alternatively, the parties may serve and file a stipulation (agreement) that the statement as originally served or corrected or modified is correct. Such a stipulation is equivalent to the judge’s certification of the statement. Sending settled statement to the Court of Appeal: Once the trial court judge certifies the statement or the trial court receives the parties’ stipulation, the trial court clerk will send the statement to the Court of Appeal as required under rule 8.150 of the California Rules of Court. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 11 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases Exhibitsc. The third part of the official record of the trial court proceeding is the exhibits, such as photographs, documents, or other items that were admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged (temporarily placed with the court) in the trial court. Exhibits are considered part of the record on appeal, but the clerk will not include any exhibits in the clerk’s transcript unless you ask that they be included in your notice designating the record on appeal. Appellant’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-003 ) includes a space for you to make this request. You also can ask the trial court to send original exhibits to the Court of Appeal at the time briefs are filed. (See rule 8.224 for more information about this procedure and see below for information about briefs.) Sometimes, the trial court returns an exhibit to a party at the end of the trial. If the trial court returned an exhibit to you or another party and you or the other party ask for that exhibit to be included in the clerk’s transcript or sent to the Court of Appeal, the party who has the exhibit must deliver that exhibit to the trial court clerk as soon as possible. 15 What happens after the official record has been prepared? As soon as the record on appeal is complete, the clerk of the trial court will send it to the Court of Appeal for the district in which the trial court is located. When the Court of Appeal receives the record, it will send you a notice telling you when you must file your brief in the Court of Appeal. 16 What is a brief? Description: A “brief” is a party’s written description of the facts in the case, the law that applies, and the party’s argument about the issues being appealed. If you are represented by a lawyer in your appeal, your lawyer will prepare your brief. If you are not represented by a lawyer, you will have to prepare your brief yourself. You should read rules 8.200–8.224 of the California Rules of Court, which set out the requirements for preparing, serving, and filing briefs in unlimited civil appeals, including requirements for the format and length of these briefs. You can get copies of these rules at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/rules .htm . Contents and format of briefs: If you are the appellant, your brief, called an “appellant’s opening brief,” must clearly explain the legal errors you believe were made in the trial court. Your brief must refer to the exact places in the clerk’s transcript and the reporter’s transcript (or the other forms of the record you are using) that support your argument. Each brief must be no longer than 14,000 words if produced on a computer, including footnotes. A brief produced on a typewriter must not be longer than 50 pages. The brief must contain a table of contents and a table of authorities. The cover of appellant’s opening brief filed in paper form must be green. For other content and formatting requirements for the brief, read rules 8.40 and 8.204 of the California Rules of Court. Remember that an appeal is not a new trial. The Court of Appeal will not consider new evidence, such as new exhibits or the testimony of new witnesses, so do not include any new evidence in your brief. Serving and filing: You must serve and file your opening brief within 40 days after the record is filed in the Court of Appeal or 70 days from the date the appellant chooses to proceed with no reporter’s transcript under rule 8.124 . “Serve and file” means that you must: l l Have somebody over 18 years old mail, personally deliver, or electronically send (serve) the brief to the other parties in the way required by law. If the brief is mailed or personally delivered, it must be by someone who is not a party to the case—so not you. Make a record that the brief has been served. This record is called a “proof of service.” Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009 ) or Proof of Electronic Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009E ) can be used to make this record. The proof of service must show who served the brief, who was served with the brief, how the brief was served (by mail, in person, or electronically), and the date the brief was served. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 12 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases l l File the original brief and the proof of service with the Court of Appeal. You should make a copy of the brief you are planning to file for your own records before you file it with the court. Unless you are filing electronically, it is a good idea to bring or mail an extra copy of the brief to the clerk when you file your original and ask the clerk to stamp this copy to show that the original has been filed. Note: If a party chooses to prepare an appendix of the documents filed in the trial court instead of designating a clerk’s transcript, the appellant’s appendix or a joint appendix must be served and filed with the appellant’s opening brief. You can get more information about how to serve court papers and proof of service from Information Sheet for Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009-INFO ) and on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-serving.htm . You and the other parties can agree (stipulate) to extend the time for filing this brief by up to 60 days (see rule 8.212(b) for requirements for these agreements). You can also apply to the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal to extend the time for filing this brief if you can show good cause for an extension (see rule 8.63 for information about extensions of time). You can use Application for Extension of Time to File Brief (Civil Case) (form APP-006) to ask the court for an extension. If you do not file your brief by the deadline set by the Court of Appeal, the court may dismiss your appeal. 17 What happens after I file my brief? Within 30 days after you serve and file your brief, the respondent must respond by serving and filing a respondent’s brief. Within 20 days after the respondent’s brief was filed, you may, but are not required to, file another brief replying to the respondent’s brief. This is called a “reply brief.” 19 What is “oral argument”? “Oral argument” is not a chance to present new evidence. Instead, it is a chance to orally explain the arguments you made in your brief to the Court of Appeal justices. You do not have to participate in oral argument if you do not want to; you can notify the Court of Appeal that you want to “waive” oral argument. If all parties waive oral argument, the justices will decide your appeal based on the briefs and the appellate record. But if any party requests oral argument, the Court of Appeal will hold oral argument. If you choose to participate in oral argument, you will have a limited amount of time as set by the court. 20 What happens after oral argument? After oral argument is held or waived, the justices of the Court of Appeal will make a decision about your appeal. The clerk of the court will mail you a notice of the Court of Appeal’s decision. 21 What should I do if I want to give up my appeal? If you do not want to continue with your appeal, you must notify the court. If the record has not yet been filed in the Court of Appeal, file Abandonment of Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-005 ) in the superior court. If the record has already been filed in the Court of Appeal, file Request for Dismissal of Appeal (Civil Case) (form APP-007 ) in the Court of Appeal. 18 What happens after all the briefs have been filed? After all the briefs have been filed or the time to file them has passed, the Court of Appeal will contact you to tell you the date for oral argument in your case or ask if you want to participate in oral argument. You can find more information about oral argument in appeals cases in rule 8.256 of the California Rules of Court and online at www.courts.ca.gov/12421.htm . Remember that the justices will have already read the briefs, so you do not need to read your brief to the justices or merely repeat the information in it. It is more helpful to tell the justices what you think is most important in your appeal or ask the justices if they have any questions you could answer. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 13 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases INFORMATION FOR THE RESPONDENT This part of this information sheet is written for the respondent—the party responding to an appeal filed by another party. It explains some of the rules and procedures relating to responding to an appeal in an unlimited civil case. The information may also be helpful to the appellant. You do not have to do anything, but there may be consequences if you do nothing. The notice of appeal simply tells you that another party is appealing the trial court’s decision. However, this would be a good time to get advice from a lawyer, if you want it. You do not have to have a lawyer; if you are an individual (not a corporation, for example), you are allowed to represent yourself in an appeal in an unlimited civil case. But appeals can be complicated and you will have to follow the same rules that lawyers have to follow. 22 I have received a notice of appeal from another party. Do I need to do anything? If you have any questions about the appeal procedures, you should talk to a lawyer. You must hire your own lawyer if you want one. You can get information about finding a lawyer on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-lowcosthelp.htm. 23 If the other party appealed, can I appeal, too? Yes. Even if another party has already appealed, you may still appeal the same judgment or order. This is called a “cross-appeal.” To cross-appeal, you must serve and file a notice of appeal. You can use Notice of Appeal/Cross- Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-002 ) to file this notice in an unlimited civil case. Please read the information for appellants about filing a notice of appeal, starting on page 3 of this information sheet, if you are considering filing a cross-appeal. 24 Is there a deadline to file a cross-appeal? Yes. You must serve and file your notice of appeal within either the regular time for filing a notice of appeal (generally 60 days after service of Notice of Entry of the judgment or a file-stamped copy of the judgment) or within 20 days after the clerk of the trial court serves notice of the first appeal, whichever is later. 25 I have received a notice designating the record on appeal from another party. Do I need to do anything? You do not have to do anything, but there may be consequences if you do nothing. A notice designating the record on appeal lets you know what kind of official record the appellant has asked to be sent to the Court of Appeal. Depending on the kind of record chosen by the appellant, however, you may have the option to: Add to what is included in the record; l Ask for a copy of the record. l Participate in preparing the record; or l Look at the appellant’s notice designating the record on appeal to see what kind of record the appellant has chosen and read about that form of the record in the response to question above. Then read below for what your options are when the appellant has chosen that form of the record. 14 Clerk's transcript or appendixa. Clerk’s transcript: If the appellant is using a clerk’s transcript, you have the option of asking the clerk to include additional documents in the clerk's transcript. To do this, within 10 days after the appellant serves its notice designating the record on appeal, you must serve and file a notice designating additional documents to be included in the clerk’s transcript. You may use Respondent’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-010 ) for this purpose. New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 14 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases Whether or not you ask for additional documents to be included in the clerk’s transcript, you must pay a fee if you want a copy of the clerk’s transcript. The trial court clerk will send you a notice indicating the cost for a copy of the clerk’s transcript. If you want a copy, you must deposit this amount with the court within 10 days after the clerk’s notice was sent. If you cannot afford to pay this cost, you can ask the trial court to waive it. To do this, you must fill out and file a Request to Waive Court Fees (form FW-001). You can get form FW-001 at any courthouse or county law library or online at www. courts.ca.gov/forms. The trial court will review this application and determine if you are eligible for a fee waiver. The clerk will not prepare a copy of the clerk’s transcript for you unless you deposit payment for the cost or obtain a fee waiver. Appendix: If the appellant is using an appendix, and you and the appellant have not agreed to a joint appendix, you may prepare a separate respondent’s appendix. See pages 5 –6 for more information about preparing an appendix. If the appellant is using a reporter’s transcript, you have the option of asking for additional proceedings to be included in the reporter’s transcript. To do this, within 10 days after the appellant files its notice designating the record on appeal, you must serve and file a notice designating additional proceedings to be included in the reporter’s transcript. You may use Respondent’s Notice Designating Record on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-010 ) for this purpose. Reporter's transcriptb. Whether or not you ask for additional proceedings to be included in the reporter’s transcript, you must generally pay a fee if you want a copy of the reporter’s transcript. The trial court clerk or reporter will send you a notice indicating the cost of preparing a copy of the reporter’s transcript. If you want a copy of the reporter's transcript, you must deposit payment for this cost (and a fee for the trial court) or one of the substitutes allowed by rule 8.130 with the trial court clerk within 10 calendar days after this notice is sent. (See rule 8.130 for more information about this deposit and the permissible substitutes, such as a waiver of this deposit signed by the court reporter.) Unlike the fee for preparing a clerk’s transcript, the court cannot waive the fee for preparing a reporter’s transcript. Money from a special fund, called the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, may be available to help you pay for the transcript. You can get information about this fund at www.courtreportersboard.ca.gov/consumers/index. shtml#trf. The reporter will not prepare a copy of the reporter's transcript for you unless you deposit the cost of the transcript, or provide one of the permissible substitutes, or your application for payment by the Transcript Reimbursement Fund is approved. Agreed statementc. If you and the appellant agree to prepare an agreed statement (a summary of the trial court proceedings that is agreed to by the parties), you and the appellant will need to reach an agreement on that statement within 40 days after the appellant files its notice of appeal. See rule 8.134 of the California Rules of Court. Settled statementd. If the appellant elects to use a settled statement (a summary of the trial court proceedings that is approved by the trial court), the appellant will send you a proposed settled statement to review. You will have 20 days from the date the appellant served you this proposed statement to serve and file either: Suggested changes (called “amendments”) that you think are needed to make sure that the settled statement provides an accurate summary of the evidence and testimony of each witness relevant to the issues the appellant is raising on appeal (see page 10 of this form and rule 8.137(e)–(h) for more information about the amendment process); or l New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 15 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases l If the oral proceedings in the trial court were reported by a court reporter, a notice indicating that you are choosing to provide a reporter’s transcript, at your expense, instead of proceeding with a settled statement (see rule 8.137(e)(2) for the requirements for choosing to provide a reporter’s transcript). Have somebody over 18 years old mail, personally deliver, or electronically send (serve) the proposed amendments to the appellant in the way required by law. If the proposed amendments are mailed or personally delivered, it must be by someone who is not a party to the case—so not you. Make a record that the proposed amendments have been served. This record is called a “proof of service.” Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009) or Proof of Electronic Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009E ) can be used to make this record. The proof of service must show who served the proposed amendments, who was served with the proposed amendments, how the proposed amendments were served (by mail, in person, or electronically), and the date the proposed amendments were served. l File the original proposed amendments and the proof of service with the trial court. You should make a copy of the proposed amendments you are planning to file for your own records before you file them with the court. Unless you are filing electronically, it is a good idea to bring or mail an extra copy of the proposed amendments to the clerk when you file your original and ask the clerk to stamp this copy to show that the original has been filed. l You can get more information about how to serve court papers and proof of service from Information Sheet for Proof of Service (Court of Appeal (form APP-009-INFO ) and on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp- serving.htm . 26 What happens after the official record has been prepared? As soon as the record on appeal is complete, the clerk of the trial court will send it to the Court of Appeal. When the Court of Appeal receives this record, it will send you a notice telling you when you must file your brief in the Court of Appeal. A brief is a party’s written description of the facts in the case, the law that applies, and the party's argument about the issues being appealed. If you are represented by a lawyer, your lawyer will prepare your brief. If you are not represented by a lawyer in your appeal, you will have to prepare your brief yourself. You should read rules 8.200–8.224 of the California Rules of Court, which set out the requirements for preparing, serving, and filing briefs in unlimited civil appeals, including requirements for the format and length of these briefs. You can get these rules at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/rules.htm . The appellant serves and files the first brief, called an “appellant’s opening brief.” You must respond by serving and filing a “respondent’s brief” within 30 days after the appellant’s opening brief is filed. “Serve and file” means that you must: The proof of service must show who served the brief, who was served with the brief, how the brief was served (by mail, in person, or electronically), and the date the brief was served. Have somebody over 18 years old mail, personally deliver, or electronically send (serve) the brief to the other parties in the way required by law. If the brief is mailed or personally delivered, it must be by someone who is not a party to the case—so not you. l Make a record that the brief has been served. This record is called a “proof of service.” Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009) or Proof of Electronic Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009E ) can be used to make this record. l New January 1, 2019 APP-001-INFO, Page 16 of 16 Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases APP-001-INFO Information on Appeal Procedures for Unlimited Civil Cases File the original brief and the proof of service with the Court of Appeal. You should make a copy of the brief you are planning to file for your own records before you file it with the court. Unless you are filing electronically, it is a good idea to bring or mail an extra copy of the brief to the clerk when you file your original and ask the clerk to stamp this copy to show that the original has been filed. l You can get more information about how to serve court papers and proof of service from Information Sheet for Proof of Service (Court of Appeal) (form APP-009-INFO ) and on the California Courts Online Self-Help Center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-serving.htm . You and the other parties can agree (stipulate) to extend the time for filing this brief by up to 60 days (see rule 8.212(b) for requirements for these agreements). You can also apply to the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal to extend the time for filing this brief if you can show good cause for an extension. You can use Application for Extension of Time to File Brief (Unlimited Civil Case) (form APP-006 ) to ask the court for an extension. If you do not file a respondent’s brief, the appellant does not automatically win the appeal. The court will decide the appeal on the record, the appellant’s brief, and any oral argument by the appellant. Remember that an appeal is not a new trial. The Court of Appeal will not consider new evidence, such as new exhibits or the testimony of new witnesses, so do not include any new evidence in your brief. If you file a respondent’s brief, the appellant then has an opportunity to serve and file another brief within 20 days to reply to your brief. 27 What happens after all the briefs have been filed? After all the briefs have been filed or the time to file them has passed, the Court of Appeal will contact you to tell you the date for oral argument in your case or ask if you want to participate in oral argument. 28 What is “oral argument”? “Oral argument” is not a chance to present new evidence. Instead, it is a chance to orally explain the arguments you made in your brief to the Court of Appeal justices. You do not have to participate in oral argument if you do not want to; you can notify the Court of Appeal that you want to “waive” oral argument. If all parties waive oral argument, the justices will decide your appeal based on the briefs and the appellate record. But if any party requests oral argument, the Court of Appeal will hold oral argument. If you choose to participate in oral argument, you will have a limited amount of time as set by the court. 29 What happens after oral argument? After oral argument is held or waived, the justices of the Court of Appeal will make a decision about your appeal. The clerk of the court will mail you a notice of the Court of Appeal’s decision. You can find more information about oral argument in appeals cases in rule 8.256 of the California Rules of Court and online at www.courts.ca.gov/12421.htm . Remember that the justices will have already read the briefs, so you do not need to read your brief to the justices or merely repeat the information in it. It is more helpful to tell the justices what you think is most important in your appeal or ask the justices if they have any questions you could answer.