• Appeals in Arizona

    Appeals involve the legal review of lower court decisions to determine if errors were made in applying the law. They are a critical part of the justice system in civil, family, juvenile, and other legal matters.

    Appeals Law AZ

Appeals

Appeals involve the legal review of lower court decisions to determine if errors were made in applying the law. They are a critical part of the justice system in civil, family, juvenile, and other legal matters.

We can help you with Appeals in Arizona

Lower Court Appeals
Juvenile Appeals
Civil Appeals
Family Law Appeals

Lower Court Appeals (Justice and Municipal Courts)

In Arizona, lower court appeals typically come from Justice Courts or Municipal (City) Courts. These appeals are usually for:

  • Civil claims under a certain monetary threshold
  • Department of Child Safety Administrative Orders
  • Misdemeanor Criminal Cases (not handled in our firm)
  • Traffic Offenses (not handled in our firm)

Where they go:

Appeals from these lower courts are taken to the Arizona Superior Court. These are often called “appeals on the record”, meaning the Superior Court reviews what happened in the lower court without a new trial.

Key points:

  • No new evidence or witnesses are presented.
  • The Superior Court judge reviews transcripts, evidence, and legal arguments.
  • Only issues of law (not fact) are reviewed.

Juvenile Appeals

Juvenile appeals involve decisions made in juvenile court, which is a division of the Superior Court in Arizona.

Common types of juvenile cases appealed:

  • Dependency (child neglect or abuse cases)
  • Severance of Parental Rights, also called Termination of Parental Rights
  • Adoption
  • Delinquency (juvenile criminal cases) (not handled in our firm)

Where they go:

These appeals are taken to the Arizona Court of Appeals, and in rare cases, to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Key points:

  • Must be filed quickly (within a certain time frame, usually 15 days).
  • These are sensitive cases, often involving confidentiality protections.
  • A child or parent can appeal, typically through their attorney.

Civil Appeals

Civil appeals involve non-criminal disputes, such as:

  • Contract disputes
  • Personal injury lawsuits
  • Property or landlord-tenant issues

Where they go:

  • If the original case was in Justice Court, it goes to Superior Court.
  • If the case was in Superior Court, it goes to the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Key points:

  • Appeals are based on errors of law—not just disagreement with the verdict.
  • New trials aren’t conducted. The appellate court reviews documents, transcripts, and legal briefs.

Family Law Appeals

Family law appeals involve decisions from family court, which is also a part of the Arizona Superior Court.

Examples:

  • Divorce Decrees or Final Decisions
  • Child Custody (Legal Decision-Making Authority) and Parenting Time
  • Child Support or Spousal maintenance Orders
  • Orders of Protection

Where they go:

These are appealed to the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Key points:

  • Appeals must focus on legal errors, not simply dissatisfaction.
  • Emotional issues are common, but appeals must stick to the law and procedure.
  • The original trial court retains authority for modifications unless the appellate court overturns the ruling.

Additional Resources

For more information and to track the status of appeals, the following online resources are available:

Related Articles on Appeals in Arizona

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