An appeal is a party’s request of a higher court to review the judgment of a lower court. There being two levels of trial courts in Tennessee, one can have from two to three levels of courts to appeal to. From one level, General Sessions you have an absolute right to an appeal up to Circuit Court. However, in any appeal there are strict time limits in which to apply for an appeal from a judgment. Miss those time limits and the best appeal is not even allowed to be attempted.

Though you may have a right to an appeal, a good attorney will only accept appeals that are “ripe” and have sound basis for a reversal of the lower court’s judgment. To be ripe, there must be I) a Final Order from the lower court, 2) a record of the court proceedings below, and 3) sound legal grounds (in the case law and/or the court record) for reversal.