An unfavorable civil judgment is not necessarily the end. GA Law Group handles civil appeals to the Court of Appeals of Georgia and the Supreme Court of Georgia, and federal civil appeals in seven U.S. Courts of Appeals. We challenge legal errors and defend favorable judgments.
Appellate courts review trial court decisions for legal error. They do not simply reweigh the facts. A successful civil appeal requires identifying an error that was preserved in the trial court, choosing the correct procedural route into the appellate court, and presenting the argument clearly in the strict format appellate courts require. Georgia's procedure in particular has traps: some civil judgments can be appealed directly, others require an application the court may deny, and the wrong choice can end an appeal before it starts.
The Court of Appeals hears most civil appeals from Georgia's superior and state courts. Under the Appellate Jurisdiction Reform Act of 2016 (HB 927, codified at O.C.G.A. § 15-3-3.1), appeals filed on or after January 1, 2017 in cases involving title to land, equity, wills, and divorce and alimony go to the Court of Appeals. Those categories previously went directly to the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The Georgia Constitution's two-term rule requires the Court of Appeals to decide each case by the end of the court term after the term in which it was docketed. With three terms a year, a docketed appeal is typically decided within months.
The Supreme Court of Georgia has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over cases involving the construction of the Georgia or United States Constitution, cases challenging the constitutionality of a law, and election contests. In most other civil matters, including the title-to-land, equity, wills, and divorce cases that HB 927 moved to the Court of Appeals, Supreme Court review comes by petition for certiorari after the Court of Appeals rules. A notice of intent to seek certiorari is due in the Court of Appeals within 10 days of its judgment (or its ruling on reconsideration), and the petition is due in the Supreme Court within 20 days. GA Law Group prepares petitions for certiorari and, when certiorari is granted, handles full briefing and argument.
Final judgments, meaning orders that end the case in the trial court, can generally be appealed directly under O.C.G.A. § 5-6-34(a). The notice of appeal is due within 30 days of the entry of judgment (O.C.G.A. § 5-6-38), or within 30 days after the court rules on a timely motion for new trial, motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or similar post-trial motion. An opposing party who wants to cross-appeal generally has 15 days after service of the notice of appeal.
Some judgments cannot be appealed as of right. O.C.G.A. § 5-6-35 requires an application for permission to appeal in categories that include divorce, alimony, and most other domestic relations cases (child custody judgments, by contrast, can generally be appealed directly); appeals from superior court decisions reviewing lower courts and administrative agencies; and certain judgments for small amounts of money. The application is due within 30 days of the judgment and must persuade the appellate court that the case deserves review. Filing a notice of appeal when an application was required, or the reverse, can result in dismissal.
Orders entered while a case is still pending, such as the denial of a motion for summary judgment, generally require the trial court's certificate of immediate review under O.C.G.A. § 5-6-34(b). The certificate must be entered within 10 days of the order, and the application to the appellate court must follow within 10 days after the certificate. Georgia courts treat these deadlines as jurisdictional. Some interlocutory orders can be appealed directly without a certificate, including an order granting summary judgment on any issue (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-56(h)) and rulings on injunctions.
Many appeals fail because the error was not preserved at trial, meaning no one raised it by objection or motion at the right time. GA Law Group advises trial clients on preserving their record throughout litigation, and reviews trial records to identify preserved grounds for appeal after an adverse judgment.
In Georgia civil cases, filing a notice of appeal and paying the costs generally acts as a supersedeas that stays enforcement of the judgment, but on the opposing party's motion the trial court can require a supersedeas bond to keep the stay in place (O.C.G.A. § 5-6-46). Whether and how to post a bond is an early strategic decision in any appeal of a money judgment.
Winning at trial is only half the work if the other side appeals. As counsel for the appellee, we defend favorable verdicts and orders, identify procedural defects in the opposing appeal, and evaluate whether a cross-appeal is warranted.
Our attorneys are admitted to practice before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits. In federal civil cases, the notice of appeal is generally due within 30 days of judgment, or 60 days if the United States or a federal agency or officer is a party (Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)). Certain post-judgment motions reset that clock. See federal appeals for the federal process.
For appeals from criminal convictions and post-conviction relief, see Georgia criminal appeals and post-conviction relief.
Reviewed by GA Law Group attorneys. Last updated October 13, 2026. This page provides general information about Georgia and federal appellate procedure, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines are strict and fact-specific. Admission to practice before a court does not imply specialization or certification, and no particular outcome can be guaranteed.
Our attorneys are admitted to practice before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits, where we handle federal criminal and civil appeals from briefing through oral argument and rehearing.
Learn MoreGA Law Group represents people convicted in Georgia courts on motions for new trial, direct appeals to the Court of Appeals of Georgia and the Supreme Court of Georgia, and post-conviction relief through state habeas corpus and related motions.
Learn MoreGA Law Group handles Georgia and federal appeals and post-conviction matters. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and your deadlines.
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