HOW & WHEN TO FILE AN APPEAL This chart outlines the basic requirements for an appeal from a final judgment.  Interlocutory appeals have different rules and procedures. E-filing will have a “convenience fee” added for credit card processing.
COURT	DEADLINE FOR APPEAL	FILING FEE	DETAILED FILING REQUIRED?	WHERE APPEAL MUST BE FILED	BASIC RULES (rules can be found on court websites)
Michigan Court of Appeals	21 days after judgment	$375 to Court of Appeals $25 to circuit court clerk Contrary to earlier reports, the $25 e-filing “system fee” will not be owed for appeals unless the action in the Court of Appeals is defined as an “original action” (rare)	No – you file a simple claim of appeal and other routine documents	Electronically – e-filing is mandatory for lawyers. Nonlawyers can file documents through e-filing or at any of the Court of Appeals’ 4 offices (Detroit, Troy, Lansing, Grand Rapids).	MCR chapter 7.200
Michigan Supreme Court	42 days after Court of Appeals decision	$375 Contrary to earlier reports, the $25 e-filing “system fee” will not be owed for appeals, but is owed for original actions (rare)	Yes – you file a full brief in support of the application for leave	An appeal must be filed at the Supreme Court clerk’s office in Lansing. There is a preference for e-filing, but the court’s procedures still list this as optional.	MCR chapter 7.300
U.S. Court of Appeals 6^th Circuit	30 days after judgment (60 days if the U.S. Government is a party)	$600 (effective 12/1/23)	No – you file a simple notice of appeal and other routine documents	The appeal is filed in the district court, not at the appeals court	Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure & local rules
U.S. Supreme Court	90 days after Court of Appeals or state supreme court decision	$300	Yes – although it need not be a full brief, you must identify the issues and present some legal argument in the petition for certiorari	An appeal must be filed at the U.S. Supreme Court clerk’s office in Washington, D.C. Lawyers are required to file electronically and a paper copy. Nonlawyers cannot file electronically and must file hard copies of papers.	U.S. Supreme Court rules
Appellate court websites: Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals: http://courts.mi.gov/Courts/Pages/default.aspx Sixth Circuit:  www.ca6.uscourts.gov U.S. Supreme Court: www.supremecourtus.gov
JAMES N. McNALLY Attorney at Law Specializing in Appeals Civil – Criminal – State – Federal – Workers Comp