Coral Gables Appeals Attorney

The Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, PA is located in Coral Gables and handles appeals arising from the trial courts of Miami-Dade County. An appeal is not a new trial — there are no new witnesses and no new evidence. A higher court reviews the record made below and the parties' written arguments to decide whether the trial court committed an error of law or reached a result the record cannot support. Appellate work is a distinct discipline from the litigation that produced the original judgment, governed by strict deadlines and its own procedural rules. For a general overview, see our explanation of the Florida appellate process.

Where Coral Gables Appeals Are Heard

Cases from Coral Gables are litigated in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the state trial court for Miami-Dade County. Appeals from final judgments of the circuit court — in its civil, probate, and family divisions — are taken to the Third District Court of Appeal, which sits in Miami and reviews appeals from Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Cases filed in federal court are heard in the Southern District of Florida, with appeals to the Eleventh Circuit.

The Kinds of Appeals We Handle

We represent both appellants and appellees in Coral Gables appeals, including:

• Civil appeals and personal injury appeals.
• Probate and estate appeals — will contests, trust disputes, and contested accountings.
• Real estate appeals and partition appeals.
• Family law and divorce appeals.

The 30-Day Deadline to Appeal

The notice of appeal must generally be filed within 30 days of rendition of the judgment or order. This jurisdictional deadline cannot be extended once it has passed, and missing it can permanently forfeit the right to appeal. Because the clock can begin as soon as a signed order is filed, consulting an appellate attorney early is important.

Direct Attorney Involvement

When you retain our firm, Albert Goodwin, Esq., is personally involved in your appeal. The attorney who studies your record is the attorney who writes your brief and, where the court permits, presents oral argument. We give honest assessments of whether your case presents an issue worth pursuing before you invest in the process.

If you are considering an appeal from a Miami-Dade trial court, contact the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, PA in Coral Gables. Call 786-522-1411 or email [email protected], or reach us through our contact page.