Georgia Appeals Attorney
Received a ruling you believe was wrong?
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You Just Got a Ruling You Didn't Expect. Now What?
A judge or jury just ruled against you, and it doesn't feel right. Maybe the law was applied incorrectly. Maybe evidence was excluded that should have been allowed. Maybe you're not even sure what went wrong, only that the outcome doesn't match what happened in that courtroom.
Boggs, Cowan & Fargione helps Georgia clients figure out whether a trial court ruling can be appealed, and if so, what that process actually looks like. We review the record, look for legal error, and give you a straight answer about your options. Appeal deadlines in Georgia are short and strict, so the sooner we look at your case, the more options you may have.
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Not every disappointing outcome is a legal mistake, and not every legal mistake changes the result. That's exactly why a case-specific review matters before you decide whether to move forward. Our appellate team looks past the emotion of the ruling and focuses on what actually happened procedurally and legally in your case.
We regularly review trial court decisions connected to our core practice areas, including family law matters, personal injury verdicts, property disputes, and fraud cases, along with other civil and family court rulings across Georgia.
Whether a legal error occurred that affected the outcome
Whether the order or judgment is one that can be appealed right now
Whether your trial record supports the issues you want to raise
What deadline applies to your specific type of case
What realistic next steps look like, based on your record
Is My Case Actually Appealable?
Legal Error vs. Disagreeing With the Outcome
An appeal isn't a chance to re-argue your case because you didn't like how it turned out. Appellate courts look for legal error, meaning a mistake in how the law was applied, how evidence was handled, or how the trial was conducted. Simply disagreeing with a judge's or jury's conclusion is not, by itself, grounds for appeal. Part of our job is helping you understand that difference honestly, before you invest time and money in a process that may not change anything.
Was the Order Final, or Still Ongoing?
Generally speaking, most appeals can only move forward once there's a final judgment or order in the case. Some rulings issued in the middle of a case, called interlocutory orders, can only be appealed in limited circumstances and require extra procedural steps. Knowing which category your ruling falls into is one of the first things we determine.
The Trial Record Is Everything
Appellate courts don't hear new witnesses or accept new evidence. They review the written record of what happened at the trial court level. If an issue wasn't properly raised and preserved in that record, it may not be available to argue on appeal, even if it's a strong argument on paper. This is why the record and how your trial was handled matter so much to your appellate options.
- Trial transcripts
- Pleadings and other filings
- Exhibits entered into evidence
- Motions and the rulings on them
- Jury instructions, where applicable
An Appeal Is Not a New Trial
An appeal is a review of legal issues, not a second chance to retell your side of the story. There's no new testimony and no new jury. Instead, attorneys submit written briefs and, in some cases, present oral argument, focused entirely on whether the trial court made a legal error. Understanding this distinction helps set realistic expectations from the start.
Types of Matters We Handle on Appeal
Civil Appeals
Contract disputes, business litigation outcomes, and other general civil judgments where a party believes the trial court misapplied the law. Learn more about our civil appeals work.
Family Law Appeals
Rulings involving divorce, child custody, support, or other family law matters can carry long-term consequences for your family. We review these orders closely, since many family law rulings follow a specific appellate track in Georgia.
Property Dispute Appeals
Boundary disputes, title issues, and other property dispute rulings where the trial court's decision may not reflect the applicable law or the evidence presented.
Fraud Case Appeals
Judgments in fraud cases, civil or otherwise, where legal or procedural issues may have affected the trial court's findings.
Personal Injury Appeals
Verdicts or post-trial rulings in personal injury cases, including issues with damages awards, evidentiary rulings, or jury instructions.
Post-Judgment and Other Trial Court Orders
Certain post-judgment motions can open the door to an appeal or affect your filing deadline, including:
- Motions for new trial
- Motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict
- Motions in arrest of judgment
- Other orders finally disposing of post-trial motions
How the Appeal Process Works With BCF
1. Initial Consultation — We start by listening. You'll walk us through what happened and what ruling you received, and we'll ask the questions needed to understand your timeline and deadline.
2. Record and Transcript Review — We review the trial court record, including available transcripts, filings, and orders, to understand exactly what occurred procedurally and legally.
3. Issue Spotting — We identify whether there are legitimate, preserved legal issues that could support an appeal, and we're honest with you if we don't see a strong path forward.
4. Strategy and Case-Specific Assessment — If an appeal makes sense, we outline a realistic strategy, likely timeline, and what to expect at each stage, based on your specific case and deadline.
5. Filings and Briefing — We handle the required filings, including the notice of appeal and appellate briefs, built around the specific legal errors we've identified in your record.
6. Oral Argument, If Applicable — Some appeals include oral argument before the appellate court. When applicable, we prepare thoroughly and represent your position directly to the judges.
Why Georgia Families and Businesses Choose BCF for Appeals
We're trial lawyers first, which means we understand what a strong (or flawed) trial record actually looks like from the inside. Based in Watkinsville and serving Athens, Oconee County, Clarke County, Gwinnett County, Commerce, and surrounding Georgia communities, we give clients a practical, honest read on their case rather than false hope.
- Real Georgia trial court experience, not just appellate theory
- A straightforward, honest assessment of whether your case is appealable
- Clear communication throughout a process that can otherwise feel confusing
- Local knowledge of Georgia courts across Oconee, Clarke, Gwinnett, and neighboring counties
Request a Case-Specific Appellate Review
Every appeal starts with understanding your specific ruling, record, and deadline. Fill out the form below and our team will follow up to discuss your options.
Appeals Attorney FAQs
In most civil and family law cases, a notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the trial court's judgment or order. Certain case types have different or shorter deadlines. Because this deadline is strict and case-specific, it's important to have your situation reviewed as soon as possible.
A new trial involves new evidence and testimony in front of a judge or jury. An appeal is a review of the existing trial record to determine whether the trial court made a legal error. No new witnesses or evidence are introduced during an appeal.
Not automatically. Most appeals require a final judgment or order, and some rulings issued mid-case can only be appealed under limited circumstances. Whether your specific ruling qualifies depends on the type of order and the procedural posture of your case.
Missing an appeal deadline can significantly limit or eliminate your options, since Georgia's appellate courts generally cannot extend a jurisdictional filing deadline. There may still be limited remedies available depending on the circumstances, so it's worth having your situation reviewed rather than assuming nothing can be done.
Not necessarily, but many clients choose a different attorney for the appellate stage. Appellate work involves a distinct skill set focused on legal writing and record analysis rather than trial advocacy, and a fresh set of eyes can sometimes identify issues that weren't apparent during trial.
Costs and timelines vary based on the length of the trial record, the complexity of the legal issues, and whether the case involves oral argument. We'll walk you through a realistic estimate for your specific situation during your case review.
Often, appeals are decided on written briefs alone. Some cases include oral argument, which is a focused legal discussion in front of appellate judges, not a courtroom trial with witnesses.
Outcomes vary by case. A successful appeal might result in the case being sent back to the trial court for further proceedings, a modified judgment, or, in some cases, a reversal of the original decision. We don't promise outcomes, but we will give you a clear-eyed view of what a favorable result could realistically look like for your case.