What is an appeal?

This week’s legal term of the week is “Appeal.”  An appeal is a right you usually have after a final decision of a court or government agency.  If don’t agree with the decision of the court or agency, you can have the decision reviewed by a higher court or agency, and sometimes a court can review an agency’s decision.  Almost all appeals have to be filed in writing.  All appeals have to be filed within a certain time, called the appeal period.  Sometimes you have to post an appeal bond, of cash or property, within a certain time, to appeal from a lower court to a higher court.