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APPEALS FROM JUVENILE & DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT TO CIRCUIT COURT

Appealing an Order, or Responding to an Appeal?

Did your Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court case end differently than you hoped? Do you have evidence or witnesses you were not able to present? You may have the right to appeal.

Has the other side appealed an order you were satisfied with? I represent both sides of an appeal, the person appealing and the person who is satisfied with the original order.

An appeal to Circuit Court is a brand-new hearing before a different judge. You do not have to show that anyone made a mistake. Whichever side you are on, the case starts over, and I will present your case again, with your evidence and witnesses.

The deadline to appeal is short. You only have 10 days from the date of the court’s order. File your notice of appeal first and then call my office.

I represent parents and families in appeals of custody, visitation, child support, protective order, CPS, and parental rights decisions. If you are not sure whether an appeal makes sense, or what to do now that the other side has appealed, call my office to schedule a consultation, or read my guide to appealing from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

YOU DESERVE A CHAMPION IN YOUR CORNER

Experience

I have practiced law for more than 30 years, and my practice now focuses on family law. I know how to prepare a case for a judge who is hearing it for the first time.

Grateful Clients

Many clients have thanked me for guiding them through a difficult process. You can read what they say on my Testimonials page.

Personalized Attention

When you hire me, you work directly with me. I take the time to listen, answer your questions, and make sure you understand each step along the way.

Here is how I guide you through an appeal, from the first call to your hearing in Circuit Court:

CONSULTATION

At your consultation, I review the court’s order, confirm your deadline or check what has already been filed, and listen to what happened at your hearing. Everything you tell me is confidential. I explain what an appeal involves and give you my honest opinion about whether it makes sense for you.

PREPARATION

If you have already filed your appeal by the time you call my office, I pick up from there. If you have not filed yet, the notice of appeal must be filed within 10 days of the court’s order, and I can file it for you once you hire me. Then I help you gather evidence, identify witnesses, and decide what the Circuit Court judge needs to hear, because I will present your case again from the beginning. If the other side is the one appealing, I help you put on your case again from the beginning.

ADVOCACY

With me on your side, you have an experienced attorney who knows the law and the rules of procedure. I represent you at your hearing in Circuit Court, where a different judge decides your case.

RELIEF

When your case is over, you will know that you were prepared, informed, and well represented.

Attorney’s fees for appeals begin at $4,900, plus costs.

FEES

TESTIMONIALS

In Their Own Words

How it feels to have me in your corner.

“I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for all of your work on my case. From the beginning through today’s hearing, you have consistently looked out for my best interests and guided me through a very difficult process with professionalism and care. I am truly grateful for your dedication, skill and support throughout this matter. Please know that your efforts have made a meaningful difference for me and my family.”

W.T., Custody Client

“Thank you so much for your guidance and help, Ms. Clay! You were a beast in the courts for me, and I appreciate that so much. My family was impressed and said you had reasonable and respectful arguments on our behalf.”

CKR, CPS Client

“I appreciate all the work you did, thank you for helping to guide me through such a tough process.”

JA, Custody, Visitation & Child Support Client

Some testimonials have been edited for clarity, brevity, and privacy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A few of the questions I hear most about appeals. See more answers in my guide to appealing from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

You only have 10 days from the date of the court’s order to file your notice of appeal. The deadline is strict, and a late appeal can be dismissed no matter how strong your case is. Please file your notice of appeal first, with the clerk of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, and then call my office. Do not wait for a consultation to file, because my schedule may not have an opening right away. I can file for you only after you hire me, and once you do, I can take over your appeal at any point.
An appeal from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court is a new hearing in Circuit Court before a different judge. The judge does not simply review what happened the first time. Evidence and witnesses are presented again, so you have a real chance to be heard, including evidence that was not heard before.
Appeals are worth considering if you disagree with the outcome, you did not have a lawyer at your first hearing, you have evidence or witnesses that were not presented, or you want a fresh start before a different judge. You do not have to prove that anyone made a mistake. An appeal also takes time, money, and emotional energy, so I give you my honest opinion about whether it makes sense before you decide.
Yes. I represent people on both sides of an appeal. If the other side has appealed an order you were satisfied with, the Circuit Court will hold a new hearing, so you will need to present your case again, including your evidence and witnesses. Please call my office and schedule a consultation as soon as you learn of the appeal, so I can explain what to expect and what you need to do.
I handle appeals of custody, visitation, child support, protective order, CPS, and parental rights decisions. If your case is not listed here, call my office and I will tell you whether an appeal is possible.
In many cases, yes. Filing an appeal does not automatically pause the order, so you may need to follow it while your appeal is pending. At your consultation, I explain what applies in your case and whether to ask the court to pause the order.
Depending on the type of case, the court may require an appeal bond, especially when the order requires you to pay money, such as child support. I explain what applies to your case at your consultation, before you decide to move forward.
Please have a copy of the court’s order available, because your 10 days are counted from the date of the order. Please also have any other court papers you received, including any notice of appeal you have filed, and a list of the witnesses who spoke or could have spoken at your hearing. If you do not have all of these, please call anyway, because the deadline matters more than the paperwork.