Appeals
Appeal Filing Process
An appeal can be filed to request an appellate court's review of a lower court's decision or ruling. For detailed guidance on the appellate process, please refer to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the rendition of the order or decision to be reviewed. The notice of appeal should substantially follow the form prescribed by Rule 9.900(a). Filing fees are required when submitting the Notice of Appeal, though fees may be waived in limited cases if the appellant qualifies as indigent.
To determine eligibility for indigency status, complete the appropriate application form: Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status for civil cases or Application for Criminal Indigent Status for criminal cases.
For guidance on filing county-to-circuit appeals, refer to Administrative Order 2020-16 Amended. If you need assistance completing legal documents, you can find an attorney through the Florida Bar's Attorney Search tool.
Cases Managed by the Appeals Department
Cases heard by the 19th Circuit Appellate Panel:
- Civil Traffic Infractions
- Final Administrative Orders of Local Government
- Code Enforcement violations
- Petitions for Writ of Certiorari
- Municipal/County Ordinances
See Administrative Order 2020-16 Amended for more information.
Cases heard by the 4th District Court of Appeal:
- Circuit Civil to include probate/guardianship/mental health
- Domestic Relations to include divorce/child support/domestic violence
- Circuit Criminal to include felony
- County Criminal to include misdemeanor/criminal traffic
- County Civil to include small claims/eviction
- Juvenile Dependency/Delinquency
Cases heard by the Florida Supreme Court:
- Final orders of courts imposing sentences of death
See Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, Chapter 9 – Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.030 Jurisdiction of Courts for more information.
Documents required for filing an Appeal
Civil matters – Notice of Appeal, along with a true and correct copy of the order to appeal
Criminal matters – Notice of Appeal
See Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, Chapter 9 – Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.030 Jurisdiction of Courts for more information.
See Fees & Costs for the current filing fees and accepted payments.
Appeals FAQs
How do I file an appeal?
Please visit Florida Rules of Court Procedure to view appellate forms under section 9.900. Recreate the Notice of Appeal and any additional forms relevant to your case. File the Notice of Appeal along with all required forms and appropriate filing fee or application for indigent status with the Clerk’s office
Where can I find a Notice of Appeal form?
Please visit Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, Chapter 9-Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.900 Forms.
How much does it cost to file an appeal?
Please visit our Fees & Costs page, Appeals Division section.
Misty Laurendeau
Juvenile & Appeals Manager
Misty began her career with the Clerk’s Office in 2007 in the Juvenile Department. Throughout her tenure, she has gained extensive experience in court operations, serving in a variety of roles including File Clerk, Court Clerk Professional, and Team Lead. Her strong leadership, dedication to continuous improvement, deep knowledge of juvenile processes, and commitment to service led to her promotion to Manager in 2025. In her current role, Misty is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Juvenile and Appeals Departments, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in all record-keeping and case-processing functions. She works closely with staff and judicial partners to support the court’s mission and uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
Contact Us
Appeals Department
201 South Indian River Drive
3rd Floor
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Directions To This Location
Mailing Address
Clerk and Comptroller
ATTN: Appeals Department
P. O. Box 700
Fort Pierce, FL 34954
Call Appeals
Phone: 772-462-6900
Fax: 772-462-6807
Hours of Operation
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday
(Excluding Holidays)
