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JDF 1916

i Answer Brief Instructions (Family & Civil Appeals)

Colorado · Colorado Judicial Branch · Effective June 1, 2026

This form provides instructions for the Appellee on how to write an Answer Brief, which is a document used to argue against the points made by the Appellant in an Opening Brief during an appeal. It details the required sections and formatting rules for the brief.

Open the official PDFfrom Colorado Judicial Branch

Where this fits in a case

Appeal

Stage: Appeal

This form is used by the Appellee when responding to an appeal in a family or civil matter. The instructions guide the person on how to structure and write their response brief.

Usually filed by the person responding.

Common questions

Do I have to file an Answer Brief?
No, filing an Answer Brief is optional, but the instructions mention that not filing might lower your chances of winning the appeal.
What is the deadline for filing this brief?
The Answer Brief is due within 35 days (5 weeks) after the Opening Brief.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect June 1, 2026.

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