2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 8.954. Filing the appeal
(a) Notice of appeal
To appeal from a judgment in a small claims case, an appellant must file a notice of appeal in the small claims court. The appellant or the appellant's attorney must sign the notice. The notice is sufficient if it states in substance that the appellant appeals from a specified judgment or, in the case of a defaulting defendant, from the denial of a motion to vacate the judgment. A notice of appeal must be liberally construed.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective July 1, 1973, January 1, 1977, January 1, 1979, January 1, 1984, July 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005.)
(b) Notification by clerk
(1) The clerk of the small claims court must promptly mail a notification of the filing of the notice of appeal to each other party at the party's last known address.
(2) The notification must state the number and title of the case and the date the notice of appeal was filed. If a party dies before the clerk mails the notification, the mailing is a sufficient performance of the clerk's duty.
(3) A failure of the clerk to give notice of the judgment or notification of the filing of the notice of appeal does not extend the time for filing the notice of appeal or affect the validity of the appeal.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended and relettered effective January 1, 1977; previously amended effective July 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005.)
(c) Premature notice of appeal
A notice of appeal filed after judgment is rendered but before it is entered is valid and is treated as filed immediately after entry. A notice of appeal filed after the judge has announced an intended ruling but before judgment is rendered may, in the discretion of the reviewing court be treated as filed immediately after entry of the judgment.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted as subd (d); relettered effective January 1, 1977; previously amended effective July 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005.)
Rule 8.954 renumbered effective January 1, 2009; adopted as rule 152 effective July 1, 1964; previously amended effective July 1, 1973, January 1, 1977, January 1, 1979, January 1, 1984, July 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005; previously amended and renumbered as rule 8.904 effective January 1, 2007.