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APP-201Optional

Respondent's Brief Limited—Limited Civil Case

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2025

This form is a written argument for the party who is responding to an appeal in a limited civil case. It asks the filer to provide information about themselves, describe the facts of the case, and explain why the lower court's decision was correct in response to the appealing party's arguments.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Appeal

Stage: Appeal

This form is used only when a party is responding to an appeal in a limited civil case. It should not be used for criminal cases, unlimited civil cases, or if there is a cross-appeal.

Usually filed by the person responding.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who should fill out this form?
This form is for the respondent, which is the party against whom the appeal is brought.
What kind of case can I use this form for?
It can only be used for a limited civil case appeal. It cannot be used for criminal cases or unlimited civil cases.
How long can the final brief be?
The brief cannot be longer than 25 pages, including this form and any extra pages used.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2025.

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