Manchester Appellate Lawyer

What Is the Appeals Process in New Hampshire?

An appellate case typically happens in two stages. First, three legal briefs must be filed with the court of appeals. Then, an oral argument must be presented before a panel of appellate court judges. In some cases, courts will decide the case based on the briefs alone.

The following outlines what is contained in the three legal briefs:

• First brief: This brief must be filed on the part of the one wishing to appeal the case. The brief must neutrally explain the case, both factually and procedurally. Then the brief must state how an error took place on the part of the trial court and the reasons for reversing the ruling.
• Second brief: This brief must be filed by the respondent. It must also neutrally explain the case and then state why the trial was correct and why the ruling is not in need of reversal.
• Third brief: This last brief is an opportunity for the one wishing to appeal the case to reply and argue against the issues in the second brief but is not an area to bring new issues up.

After the briefs are submitted, and in some cases after an oral argument is heard, the appellate court judges will state their decision and reasoning for the decision in written form.

At Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey, our team of Manchester appellate attorneys is prepared to take your case all the way through appeals court if it would benefit your case. We can discuss your options with you and provide you with the information and resources you need to make an informed decision about this possibility. Since 1975, our firm has helped clients with a variety of cases overcome the legal obstacles they face. We are well-equipped to take your case as far as it can go and work with you on an individual level to make this happen.

Handling Appeals in a Variety of Practice Areas

Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey has vast experience in appealing matters in a wide variety of practice areas and courts such as the New Hampshire Supreme Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

We can handle the following, and more:

• Commercial and business disputes
• Land use
• Family law
• Criminal law

Family law is a broad term that includes custody, property division, child support, relocation, alimony awards, prenuptial agreements, and the like. In addition, we have appealed numerous criminal matters and have argued issues of suppression, trial errors, ineffective assistance of counsel and sentencing errors on state and federal levels.

How Long Do I Have to Appeal a Case?

Be advised, appealing the decision of a lower court and/or administrative agency is the subject of strict timeframe limitations. This time frame, generally, is 30 days from the decision of the trial court or lower tribunal.

Over the years, our firm has made a name for itself as a firm with proven litigation success. While we cannot promise any one result, we work to uphold our reputation and maintain straightforward communication with you about your case throughout proceedings.