Can I Appeal a Family Law Decision in Louisiana?

courtroom

After a long and arduous process, you may be relieved when your family law case is finally coming to a close. However, that relief may be short-lived as the judgment proves to be less than ideal. If you disagree with the outcome of your case, you may worry there is nothing you can do. However, it’s important to understand that you may be able to appeal this decision. If this reflects your circumstances, you’ll want to keep reading to learn what you should know about this process and how a Monroe, Louisiana family law attorney can help you through these difficult matters.

What Are Common Family Law Rulings That Get Appealed?

There are several issues handled in family court which may get overturned in an appeal. You may appeal because you believe the court or judge made a mistake in the decision warranting an appeal. This essentially means that you are asking a higher power to look at the case and overturn the decision made by the initial judge.

You may disagree or have reason to believe an error was made in several decisions, like alimony, child support, child custody, property division, or business valuation.

It’s important to understand that though the appeal process can be somewhat costly, many decisions to appeal are personal. For example, you may want to fight for child custody or sentimental property wrongly given to your spouse.

What Does the Appeal Process Include?

If you want to appeal a family law decision, you’ll first need to serve the other party with a notice of appeal. This informs the other party of the order you are appealing, the court that issues the order, and the court to which you are filing the appeal with. In addition to your notice of appeal, you must also submit briefs that explain why you are seeking to have the decision overturned, with legal reasons and how those reasons relate to the case. After, the other party will enter a responsive brief that counters the points you’ve made in your notice of appeal.

It’s important to understand that during the appeal process, no new evidence can be introduced to the court. This is because you are arguing on the legality of the decision made by the lower courts instead of arguing based on new evidence.

As you can see, this process can be challenging on many levels. That’s why you should not try to navigate this on your own. Unfortunately, doing so can result in a less-than-favorable outcome for your circumstances. At Breithaupt, DuBos, & Wolleson, our dedicated legal team will do everything possible to assist you through these matters. We understand how frustrating it can be to feel like the courts made the wrong decision, which is why our firm is ready to help you appeal. Connect with us today to learn how we can assist you.

Contact Us Today
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.