1. Main Appeal Courts Structure

Civil & Family

Original Court

Appeal Court

County Court

High Court or Court of Appeal

Family Court

High Court or Court of Appeal

High Court

Court of Appeal

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

Criminal

Original Court

Appeal Court

Magistrates’ Court

Crown Court or High Court

Crown Court

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

2. Key Appeal Principles

Appeals are usually based on:

• Error of law
• Procedural unfairness
• Serious factual mistake
• Decision outside reasonable discretion

Appeals are not usually allowed simply because:

• You disagree with the outcome
• You lost
• You want another hearing

Official Civil Appeal Rules:
Civil Procedure Rules Part 52

Official Family Appeal Rules:
Family Procedure Rules Part 30

3. Permission to Appeal

Most appeals require:

Permission to Appeal

Permission may be granted if:

• The appeal has a real prospect of success
  OR
• There is another compelling reason

Permission may be requested:

1. At the original hearing
2. Later from the appeal court

4. Civil Appeals (County Court / High Court)

Main guidance:
Appeal a Civil Court Decision (EX340)

Detailed appeal guide:
How to Appeal a Civil Decision

Main Civil Appeal Forms

N161 – Appellant’s Notice

Main appeal form for most civil/family appeals.

Form N161

N161A – Guidance Notes

N161A Guidance Notes

N164 – Small Claims Appeals

Form N164

N162 – Respondent’s Notice

Form N162

N244 – Application Notice

Used for extensions, stays, relief, procedural applications.

Form N244

Practice Direction forms list:
Practice Direction 5A – Forms

5. Family Court Appeals

Official guidance:
Appeal a Decision in a Family Law Case

Common Family Appeal Situations

Appeals involving:

• Child arrangements
• Non-molestation orders
• Financial remedies
• Care proceedings
• Fact-finding decisions
• Relocation orders

Main Family Appeal Forms

N161 – Family Appeals

Form N161

N161D – Guidance Notes

N161D Guidance Notes

N162 – Respondent’s Notice

Form N162

6. Magistrates’ Court Appeals

Official overview:
Appeal a Magistrates’ Court Decision

Types of Magistrates Appeals

A. Appeal to Crown Court

Usually against:

• Conviction
• Sentence
• Both

B. Case Stated Appeal to High Court

Used when:

• Magistrates applied law incorrectly

C. Judicial Review

For procedural unfairness/public law errors.

Magistrates Appeal Forms

Appeal Against Conviction or Sentence

Magistrates Appeal Form

Sentence Only Appeal

Sentence Appeal Form

7. Crown Court Criminal Appeals

Official guidance:
Appeal a Crown Court Decision

Time Limits

Usually:

• 28 days from conviction
  OR
• 28 days from sentencing

Late appeals require:

Extension of Time

Criminal Appeal Forms

Form NG – Appeal Against Conviction

Form NG – Conviction Appeal

Criminal Procedure Forms

Criminal Procedure Rules Forms

Court of Appeal Criminal Forms

Court of Appeal Forms

8. Judicial Review Appeals

Judicial review challenges:

• Public authority decisions
• Government decisions
• Tribunal/public body errors

Usually heard in:

Administrative Court

Main forms:

• N461 Judicial Review Claim Form

Form N461 – Judicial Review Claim Form

9. Tribunal Appeals

Common tribunals:

• Immigration
• Employment
• Benefits
• Tax
• SEND
• Mental health

Appeals often move:

• First-tier Tribunal → Upper Tribunal
• Upper Tribunal → Court of Appeal

Employment Tribunal Appeals

Appeals go to:

Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT)

Official guidance:
Employment Appeal Tribunal

Appeal form:
EAT Notice of Appeal Form

10. Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Official guidance:
Appeal to the Court of Appeal Civil Division

Common Time Limits

Usually:

• 21 days for County Court/High Court appeals
• 28 days for Upper Tribunal appeals

11. Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Handles:

• Conviction appeals
• Sentence appeals
• Confiscation orders

Official CPS guidance:
Appeals to the Court of Appeal

12. Supreme Court Appeals

The highest UK appeal court.

Usually only hears:

• Important legal principle cases
• Public importance issues

Permission is almost always required.

Official guidance:
UK Supreme Court Practice Directions

Supreme Court forms:
UK Supreme Court Forms

13. Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)

For alleged miscarriages of justice.

The CCRC can refer cases back to the Court of Appeal.

Official guidance:
CCRC Applications

Application form:
CCRC Application Form

14. Important Appeal Documents

Skeleton Argument

Short legal summary.

Grounds of Appeal

Explains:

• Errors made
• Why decision was wrong

Appeal Bundle

Contains:

• Orders
• Evidence
• Transcripts
• Judgments

Transcript

Often essential.

Official transcript request form:
EX107 Transcript Request Form

15. Stays Pending Appeal

You can ask court to:

Stay Enforcement

This temporarily pauses:

• Evictions
• Financial enforcement
• Orders
• Warrants

Usually requested using:

N244

Form N244

16. Costs Risks in Appeals

Appeals can involve:

• Court fees
• Opponent’s legal costs
• Security for costs

Weak appeals may result in:

• Costs orders
• Strike out
• Permission refusal

17. Common Reasons Appeals Fail

• Mere disagreement with judge
• No legal error
• Missing deadlines
• Poor grounds
• No transcript
• Rearguing original case
• Incomplete evidence

18. Appeals Based on New Evidence

Fresh evidence may be allowed if:

• It was unavailable earlier
• It is credible
• It could affect outcome

Civil courts follow:

Ladd v Marshall principles

19. Time Limits Summary

Civil appeals

21 days                                 Family appeals

                                               Usually 21 days

Crown Court criminal appeals

28 days                                 Magistrates appeals

                                               21 days

Supreme Court permission

28 days

20. Official Master Lists of Forms

Criminal Procedure Forms

Criminal Procedure Rules Forms

Court of Appeal Forms

Court of Appeal Forms

21. Key Courts & Organisations

• HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Court of Appeal of England and Wales
• Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
• Criminal Cases Review Commission
• Employment Appeal Tribunal