When must an appellant file an appellant’s notice under CPR 52.12?

If the lower court directs no period and no special appeal provision applies, the appellant must file the appellant’s notice within 21 days after the lower-court decision. A period directed at the decision hearing or its adjournment controls. CPR 52.8–52.11, PD 52D and CPR 62.10A can use different periods or triggers.

Responsible actor. The appellant filing the appellant’s notice at the appeal court.

Identify the decision to be appealed and its date.

Check the lower court’s directions at the hearing or adjournment for a longer or shorter period.

Check the appeal route, Rules 52.8–52.11, PD 52D and any Rule 62.10A exception before using 21 days.

Only the ordinary CPR 52.12(2)(b) default. Establish the appeal route and read the hearing directions first. This page does not compute a directed period, specialist appeal, respondent’s notice or arbitration permission-based branch.

1. Establish that the ordinary 21-day default applies.
2. Use the lower-court decision date, not receipt of a later order.
3. Exclude the decision day and count 21 calendar days.
4. File at the correct appeal court and assess sealed-notice service separately.

Exclude the established trigger day under CPR 2.8. For a period exceeding five days, count every following calendar day, including intermediate weekends and holidays. The final day counts for a within-days deadline. Apply court-office closure treatment only to an act at that office.

For an act at the court office, CPR 2.8(5) permits completion on the next day the office is open when the final day is closed. Apply the ordinary PD 2A calendar, including its one further Christmas closure, rather than treating the entire Christmas vacation as closed. A specific order or additional directed closure needs separate review.

The calculator covers complete trigger, deemed-service and result dates in 2026 and 2027. Check the actual office, filing channel, order and any additional directed closure. PD 2A closes the ordinary court office on December 24 in both years, but that office closure does not make the day a non-business day for service. Historical editions, later calendars, specialized pilots and online procedures require separate review.

Fictitious example

Fictitious established facts. The lower court decides October 20. No directed period or special route applies. Exclude the decision date and count 21 calendar days.

Fictitious established facts. The calculator does not establish valid service, applicability, a filed acknowledgment, an agreed extension, court permission or actual office access.

Directed and special periods

A directed period under Rule 52.12(2)(a) can be longer or shorter. Rules 52.8–52.11 and PD 52D preserve specific routes. Do not apply this default across all appeals.

Arbitration permission exception

For decisions within Rule 62.10A, permission must come from the court that made the decision. Paragraph (3) generally uses 21 days after permission is granted where that order directs no different period. That is outside this decision-date preset.

Extension and stay

Parties cannot agree to extend an appeal-rule or order limit under Rule 52.15. Apply to the appeal court where required. An appeal does not automatically stay the lower decision under Rule 52.16.

• Only the ordinary CPR 52.12(2)(b) default. Establish the appeal route and read the hearing directions first. This page does not compute a directed period, specialist appeal, respondent’s notice or arbitration permission-based branch.
• The calculator covers complete trigger, deemed-service and result dates in 2026 and 2027. Check the actual office, filing channel, order and any additional directed closure. PD 2A closes the ordinary court office on December 24 in both years, but that office closure does not make the day a non-business day for service. Historical editions, later calendars, specialized pilots and online procedures require separate review.

• Retain the decision and the hearing or adjournment directions.
• Identify the correct appeal court and applicable appeal route.
• Check permission requirements and request appeal-court permission in the notice where applicable.
• Prepare the correct notice, grounds and required supporting documents.
• File through the authorized appeal-court route and preserve receipt.
• Track sealed-notice service separately under Rule 52.12(3).
• Check whether an extension application or stay application is required.
• Filing means delivery to the court office under CPR 2.3. Confirm the actual court, authorized electronic or paper route, applicable time zone and receipt. CPR 5.5 and the relevant practice direction govern electronic filing. This page assumes no universal midnight or 4:30 p.m. filing cutoff. Preserve filing confirmation and complete any separate service duty.