An appeal is not a simple rerun of the first-instance case. It must connect the challenged part, legal or factual error, deadline, admissible material and requested result. The general civil appeal period is 14 days from service of the reasoned judgment; a criminal judgment is generally appealed within one month after announcement; and an administrative complaint is generally due within one month after publication or official notice, subject to special statutory rules.
1. First response: preserve the decision, service evidence and deadline
An appeal assessment starts with the full decision, not merely the operative part. Preserve court notices, electronic service records, envelopes, hearing minutes, audio records and anything showing when and how the act was received. A one-day calculation error can be decisive.
Do not wait for a perfect copy of the whole file before calculating time. Build two parallel schedules: every possible deadline and its legal basis; and each disputed finding, the relevant record and the precise change requested.
- Full decision and proof of service
- Case number and first-instance court
- Hearing record and evidence filed
- Calendar checked for non-working days and special rules
2. Deadline map: civil, criminal and administrative routes
Article 369 of the Civil Procedure Code sets a 14-day civil appeal period which, as a general rule, cannot be extended or restored. Time runs from service of the reasoned judgment in the statutory manner; presence when the reasoned judgment is announced may change the starting point.
Under Article 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code, an appeal from a first-instance judgment is generally filed with the court that delivered it within one month after announcement. Certain rulings and enforcement matters can carry shorter periods, including ten days.
Article 180 of the General Administrative Code generally allows one month from publication or official notice for an administrative complaint. A court claim, mandatory administrative review and sector-specific rule require separate analysis.
- Civil judgment: general period 14 days
- Criminal judgment: general period one month
- Administrative complaint: general period one month
- Interlocutory complaint or special act: verify individually
3. Civil appeals: what the notice must demonstrate
A civil appeal should identify the judgment and part challenged, explain why it is wrong, state the factual or legal grounds and formulate the exact relief sought. Saying that the court ‘decided incorrectly’ is no substitute for analysing the specific evidence, rule and finding.
New facts and evidence are not automatically admissible. The appellant should explain why the material was not produced below and how it affects the disputed finding. The scope of the notice frames appellate review, so an imprecise remedy can restrict the practical result.
4. Criminal appeals: conviction, sentence and the defence record
A criminal appeal may challenge legality or reasoning, assessment of evidence, procedural violations, legal classification or sentence. The defence should immediately secure the judgment, hearing records, expert evidence, motions and adverse rulings.
The notice should distinguish a legal error, a finding inconsistent with the record, a violation capable of affecting the outcome, and the order the appellate court is asked to make. In urgent cases, detention measures and the enforcement position are assessed in parallel.
5. Administrative complaints and judicial review
First classify what is challenged: an individual act, refusal, action or failure to act. Then determine whether a superior authority exists, whether prior administrative review is mandatory, whether filing suspends the act and whether a separate suspension request is needed.
The administrative file often contains what the final refusal omits—internal assessment, document requests, timing and use of discretion. Obtain the complete file and connect the argument to competence, procedure, factual basis and proportionality.
6. Appeal-ground matrix and evidence
A useful working document is a four-column matrix: first-instance finding; alleged error; record or legal rule; requested appellate result. It separates emotional repetition from legally material issues.
Verify every quotation in context. Identify the file page, hearing timestamp, document date and current legislative text. A new legal argument and new evidence are different matters and their admissibility must be assessed separately.
7. Court fees, enforcement and interim protection
For a property-valued civil dispute, the current general appeal fee is 4% of the value in dispute, subject to a GEL 150 minimum, statutory caps and exemptions. Non-property and special proceedings can differ. Lawyers’ fees, experts, translation and other disbursements are separate from the state fee.
The effect of filing depends on the proceeding. A civil appeal may prevent finality in the challenged part, while an immediately enforceable judgment or administrative act may require a separate stay or interim measure. A criminal appeal does not automatically suspend every consequence.
8. A 24-hour appellate action plan
On day one, record service time, obtain the full decision, preserve electronic and paper material, pause informal communications that may harm the position and assign one responsible person. Give counsel a one-page chronology, core documents and the desired practical outcome.
The next step may be a full appeal, partial challenge, interlocutory complaint, administrative review, settlement or another procedure. The correct route follows only from reviewing the decision, record and applicable special rule together.
- Work to the shortest plausible deadline
- Do not file an unstructured emotional narrative
- Define the exact order requested
- Verify fee, copies, signature and authority
Important noteThis material is general information, not personalised legal advice. Recheck current law, official practice, fees and deadlines against your facts before acting.