Article: While you may have represented yourself at trial, the arguments on appeal can be quite a bit more complex. You also will be expected to understand court rules and legal theory as well as an attorney would if you represent yourself. If you had an attorney represent you at trial, find out if they are willing to represent you on appeal. Not all trial litigators have experience fighting appeals. If your trial attorney can't assist you, they may be able to provide you with a recommendation. Experienced appeals attorneys can be more expensive than trial attorneys. If you have limited funds, look for low-cost resources in your community, such as nonprofit organizations. Appellate courts typically are divided into districts, with each appellate court having jurisdiction over the decisions of several different trial courts. Check the website for your state's court system to find out which court has jurisdiction over your appeal. Someone in the court clerk's office or the courthouse law library also may be able to help you identify the correct court. This court may be some distance from you, particularly if you live in a rural area. If you represent yourself on appeal, you are expected to know and follow the rules just as an attorney would be. For a criminal case, you'll need to know Criminal Procedure rules. If it's a civil case, you'll need to know Civil Procedure rules. Not being an attorney won't get you off the hook if you miss a deadline or don't file the correct documents. You can get a copy of the local rules at the courthouse law library. Many court systems also have the rules available online. The section of the rules governing appeals is usually only a few pages long. Your notice of appeal alerts the courts and the other party to the case that you plan to appeal the trial judge's decision. The notice is a fairly formulaic document that typically doesn't go into the exact reasons for the appeal. You may be required to serve the notice on the other party before you file it with the court, or you may be able to file it first. Check with the clerk of the court to make sure. You typically can find a form that you can use for your notice of appeal. Ask at the clerk's office or the courthouse law library. If there's not a form, they should be able to give you a copy of one from another case that you can use as an example. You'll need to file the notice of appeal at the appellate court that will hear the appeals case not the court that held your trial. You may be able to file your notice online, or you may have to go to the appellate courthouse and file it in person with the clerk. When you file your notice of appeal you'll have to pay a filing fee. The filing fee for an appeal is typically several hundred dollars. You may be able to get a fee waiver if you have low income and are unable to pay it. Ask the clerk for an application. If you haven't already, you'll be responsible for serving a copy of the notice of appeal on the other party to your case. Typically you'll do this by paying a small fee to a sheriff or private process server. The trial transcript is a document produced by the court reporter that provides a verbatim account of everything said and done at trial. You'll need a copy of the transcript yourself, and you'll also need to have one sent up to the appellate court. Most courts have forms you can use to file your request for the trial transcript. Check online or ask for a form in the appellate clerk's office. Unless you've already been granted a fee waiver, expect to pay a few hundred dollars to get copies of the trial transcript. It also usually takes several weeks to get the transcript together and bound.

What is a summary?
Hire or consult an attorney. Identify the correct court. Read the local rules carefully if you're representing yourself. Draft a notice of appeal. File your notice of appeal. Request a copy of the trial transcript.