Miami Appeals Attorney

The Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, PA is based in the Miami area 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. Instead, 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. Because appellate work is governed by strict deadlines and its own body of procedural rules, it is a distinct discipline from the litigation that produced the original judgment. For a general overview, see our explanation of the Florida appellate process.

Where Miami Appeals Are Heard

Civil cases in Miami are tried in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the state trial court for Miami-Dade County. Appeals from final judgments of the circuit court — including its civil, probate, and family divisions — are taken to the Third District Court of Appeal, which sits in Miami and hears appeals from Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

Cases filed in federal court in Miami are decided in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and appeals from its final judgments go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Federal appeals follow the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, a separate framework from the state rules.

The Kinds of Appeals We Handle

We represent both appellants, the party challenging a decision, and appellees, the party defending it, in Miami appeals across these areas:

• Civil appeals — money judgments, contract and business disputes, and general civil litigation.
• Probate and estate appeals — will contests, trust disputes, contested accountings, and guardianship matters.
• Real estate appeals, partition appeals, and personal injury appeals.
• Family law and divorce appeals.

The 30-Day Deadline to Appeal

In a typical Florida case, the notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of rendition of the judgment or order. This deadline is jurisdictional, which means the appellate court has no authority to extend it once it has passed. Missing it can permanently forfeit the right to appeal, regardless of how strong the arguments would have been. Because the clock can start as soon as a signed order is filed, there is real value in consulting an appellate attorney early.

Direct Attorney Involvement

When you retain our firm, Albert Goodwin, Esq., is personally involved in your appeal. Appellate work turns on close reading of the trial record, careful legal research, and persuasive written argument, and that work is not delegated away. We give honest assessments rather than inflated promises — most appeals end in affirmance, so we will tell you candidly 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 promptly. Call 786-522-1411 or email email@lawyergoodwin.com, or reach us through our contact page.