Which stages exist
- Appeal — before the judgment enters into force. The case is heard again on its merits.
- Cassation — against judgments that have entered into force and were not heard on appeal. The court checks the legality, the validity and the fairness of the judgment.
The time limit
Under article 385¹ of the Civil Procedure Code, you file the appeal within one month from the day the court renders the judgment. For cases heard under the simplified procedure, and for cases on the return of an unlawfully occupied state land plot and on the demolition of an unauthorised construction, the time limit is ten days after the court renders the judgment.
What the complaint must contain
Under article 386 of the Civil Procedure Code, the complaint must contain:
- The court, the case number and the date of the judgment.
- The part of the judgment you disagree with.
- What is wrong with the judgment.
- Your exact request: for example, to annul the judgment and render a new one, or to amend the judgment.
- Your name, your address, the list of the attached documents and your signature.
Restoring the time limit
If you missed the time limit for a valid reason, file a request to restore it and confirm the reason with a document. You must file the request no later than three months from the day the court rendered the judgment. If the court finds the reason valid, a judge of the appellate instance court restores the time limit.
Advice
Write down the date on which the court rendered the judgment. The time limit runs from that date, not from the day you received the copy.