Appeals to the Fourth District Court of Appeal

The Fourth District Court of Appeal is the intermediate appellate court that reviews decisions of the trial courts in Broward, Palm Beach, and several neighboring counties. For clients with cases in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and the surrounding area, the Fourth DCA is where most appeals are decided. The Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, PA handles appeals before the Fourth District Court of Appeal in civil and probate matters.

Jurisdiction and Location

The Fourth District Court of Appeal sits in West Palm Beach and has appellate jurisdiction over Broward County, Palm Beach County, Indian River County, Martin County, Okeechobee County, and St. Lucie County. Appeals from the circuit courts in those counties — including the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Broward) and the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach) — are taken to this court.

What the Fourth DCA Reviews

The Fourth DCA hears appeals as a matter of right from most final orders under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.110, immediate appeals from the categories of non-final orders listed in Rule 9.130, and petitions for a writ of certiorari and other extraordinary writs. Cases are decided by three-judge panels, on the briefs and the record and, in some cases, after oral argument. The court has issued a substantial body of decisions in probate, trust, real property, family, and commercial law that guides trial courts throughout its territory.

Precedential Effect

A decision of the Fourth DCA binds the trial courts within its district. Where the Fourth DCA and another District Court of Appeal reach conflicting conclusions on the same question of law, that conflict can be a basis for discretionary review by the Florida Supreme Court. Understanding how the Fourth DCA has addressed an issue — and whether its position differs from other districts — is an important part of building an appeal here.

Deadlines and Procedure

An appeal to the Fourth DCA begins with a notice of appeal filed in the lower tribunal within 30 days of rendition of the order being appealed. This jurisdictional deadline cannot be extended once it passes. The record is then prepared and the parties file their briefs on the schedule set by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. For a complete walk-through, see our overview of the Florida appellate process.

Matters We Handle Before the Fourth DCA

We represent appellants and appellees before the Fourth District Court of Appeal in civil appeals, probate and estate appeals, real estate appeals, personal injury appeals, partition appeals, and family law and divorce appeals.

Speak With a Fourth DCA Appellate Attorney

If you have an adverse ruling from a Broward, Palm Beach, or neighboring-county trial court, contact the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, PA. Call 786-522-1411, email [email protected], or visit our contact page. Because the 30-day deadline to file a notice of appeal is jurisdictional, please contact us promptly.