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APP-200Optional

Appellant's Opening Brief—Limited Civil Case

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2025

This form is an Appellant's Opening Brief used only when appealing a limited civil case. It asks the filer to provide information about the case, the order being appealed, the timeline of the appeal, the facts of the dispute, and what happened in the trial court.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Appeal

Stage: Appeal

This form is used by a party who is appealing a decision made in a limited civil case. It must be used only for limited civil case appeals, not for criminal or unlimited civil cases.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who should fill out this form?
This form is for the appellant, which is the party appealing the case. It can be filled out by either party involved in the appeal.
What kind of cases can I use this for?
This form is only for use as an opening brief in a limited civil case appeal. It cannot be used for criminal or unlimited civil cases.
What do I need to do after filling it out?
You must make a copy for every other party and the trial court. You need to file the completed form and proof of service with the appellate division clerk's office.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2025.

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