Family law cases that go before a judge often end with a decision that one or both parties do not agree with. This is why family law cases can be appealed in the state of Washington. However, you can’t appeal a case simply because you don’t like the judge’s decision. If you do have legitimate grounds for an appeal, you have to quickly decide whether you want to keep your initial attorney, then file the appeal. Read on to learn more about family law case appeals in Washington.

What Can Be Appealed

As previously mentioned, simply disagreeing with a judge’s decision does not give you valid grounds for an appeal. The initial judge must have made some sort of legal error for an appeals court to consider hearing the case. Otherwise, the appeals court will simply decline to hear your appeal and the initial ruling will stand.

It can be difficult for a layperson to determine whether they have grounds for an appeal. This is where your attorney comes in. They will be able to determine if you may have grounds for an appeal.

Appeals Must Be Filed Soon After the Initial Verdict

It is important that appeals are filed as soon as possible after the initial verdict. In fact, appeals must be filed within 30 days of the initial decision. This rule is in place partly to cut down on frivolous appeals and partly to keep families from being kept in legal limbo for an extended period.

You Can Get a New Attorney

You are allowed to terminate your relationship with your initial attorney and hire another attorney for the appeals process. In fact, there are many attorneys who specialize in appeals. If you were unhappy with the performance of your initial attorney, it is a good idea to find one who has experience with appeals. Keep in mind that you must find a new attorney quickly, as you only have one month to file a notice to appeal the initial ruling. It might take a few tries to find an attorney who feels that you have legitimate grounds for appeal upon review of your case.