Instructions for Filling Out Forms in the Appellate Division
The purpose of the following instructions is to indicate what is to be entered in each section of
various forms used in the Appellate Division and what documents must accompany the forms. Enclosed
are copies of the forms with each section numbered. That number corresponds with the number under the
instructions for filling out that specific form. Please print or type the information on the forms which are
enclosed.
Notice of Appeal Form
1. Enter the complete caption or title of the case exactly as it appears on the papers from the trial
court or State agency from which you are appealing.
2. Enter your name, address, including any email address, and daytime telephone number. If you are
not an attorney at law admitted to practice in the State of New Jersey, you may not represent any
person other than yourself.
3. Enter the name of the judge whose judgment or order you are appealing.
4. Enter the name of the trial court from which this case originates (for example, "Superior Court,
Law Division, Essex County", or "Superior Court, Family Part, Mercer County", or "Tax Court").
If the appeal is from a final decision of a State agency, enter the name of the agency.
5. In civil cases, enter the trial court docket number. In criminal cases, enter the complaint,
accusation or indictment number(s). If a municipal appeal, enter the Law Division docket number.
In agency matters, enter the number assigned by the agency.
6. Enter your name.
7. Check the appropriate box or boxes. Enter the date of the judgment, order or agency decision
appealed from.
8. If you are appealing the entire judgment, order or agency decision, leave this space blank. If
appealing only a part or several parts, specify in this space.
9. If all issues as to all parties are disposed of in this action in the trial court or agency, check "Yes".
If all issues as to all parties are not disposed of, check "No". If you check "No", you should not be
filing a notice of appeal, but rather a motion for leave to appeal, unless the answer to the next
question, whether there is a certification of final judgment entered pursuant to Court Rule 4:42-2,
is "Yes".
10. Only complete this section if the case is criminal, quasi criminal or juvenile action.
(A) Give a concise statement of the offense and the judgment including the date entered and
any sentence or disposition imposed.
(B) Check the appropriate box indicating what the appeal is from. If from a post-conviction
relief, indicate if it is a 1st, 2nd or other.
Revised Effective: 09/01/2008, CN: 10502-English (Notice of Appeal) page 1 of 3
(C) Indicate whether you are incarcerated and if bail or a stay was granted. If in custody, enter
the name and full address of the facility or institution at which you are confined. Be sure
to include any inmate identification number assigned to you.
(D) Check the appropriate box indicating who represented you below.
11. Pursuant to Court Rule 2:5-1, a notice of appeal must be served upon a number of individuals.
Enter the names, date of service and other information requested. Pursuant to Court Rule 1:5-2,
service may be made by personal delivery of the papers, by ordinary mail or by certified or
registered mail return receipt requested.
12. As discussed elsewhere in this pro se kit, the transcript of the proceedings of the trial court or state
agency from which you are appealing must be ordered. As appellant, you must order the transcript
and complete this section of the notice of appeal. Enter the names of the persons on whom you
served the court transcript request form(s), the date of service and the amount of deposit paid.
13. You need not order nor pay a deposit for the transcript at the time of filing the notice of appeal if
any of the conditions enumerated in this section apply. If applicable, check the appropriate box.
If none of the four statements in this section applies to your case, you should leave this section
blank.
No Verbatim Record
This means that during the proceedings in the trial court or agency from which you are
appealing, there was no court reporter present, no tape recorder that was sound recording,
nor any other verbatim record of the proceedings being made.
Transcript in Possession of Attorney or Pro Se Litigant
This means that either you or an attorney representing another party have already obtained
the transcript. In these instances, it will not have to be reordered as a new transcript. As
you are the appellant, however, it will be your responsibility to have sufficient copies made
of the transcript for filing and service. If the transcript is in the possession of another
person, you will be responsible for making arrangements to obtain it from that person, or
obtain a copy from the person who produced the transcript. List the date(s) of the trial or
hearing.
Motion for Abbreviation of Transcript Filed with the Court or Agency Below
In lieu of a transcript of the entire proceedings in the trial court or agency, the transcript
may be abbreviated by either the consent of all parties or by a motion to the trial court or
agency. See the Appellate Division Practice Checklist and Court Rule 2:5-3(c) for more
information. If you have filed a motion for abbreviation of the transcript, a copy of that
motion must be attached to your notice of appeal. As the person who filed the motion with
the trial court or agency, it is your responsibility to keep the Clerk's office informed as to
the status of that motion and to obtain a copy of the decision deciding same.
Motion for Free Transcript Filed with the Court Below
If you have filed a motion for free transcript with the trial court, a copy of that motion must
be attached to your notice of appeal. As the person who filed the motion with the trial
court, it is your responsibility to keep the Clerk's office informed as to the status of that
motion and to obtain a copy of the order deciding same. Please refer to the cover letter of
this pro se kit and the Appellate Division Practice Checklist for more information.
Revised Effective: 09/01/2008, CN: 10502-English (Notice of Appeal) page 2 of 3
14. Enter the date on the line.
15. Sign your name on the line.
Necessary Attachments to the Notice of Appeal
The notice of appeal that you mail or deliver to the Clerk's office for filing, and which you serve
on the other parties and individuals, must have a transcript request form and a case information statement
attached.
(1) Transcript Request Form(s).
One copy of a transcript request form for each individual court reporter must be attached to your
notice of appeal. In the case of sound recording, one copy of the transcript request form to the
clerk of the trial court or agency from which this appeal is being taken must be attached to your
notice of appeal. The check in payment of the deposit is not mailed to the Clerk's office, but is to
be sent by you to the court reporter or, in the case of sound recording, to the clerk of the trial court
or agency. If, as discussed elsewhere in this pro se kit, you can not afford the transcript, your
notice of appeal should be accompanied by a copy of the motion for free transcript you filed in
the trial court, or by a copy of the motion for abbreviation of transcript filed in the trial court or
agency. If you are filing a motion for free transcript in the Appellate Division, you must include
with your notice of appeal an original and four copies of your motion, made pursuant to Court
Rule 2:8-1.
(2) Case Information Statement.
If your case is a civil matter, you must complete and sign a civil case information statement. If
criminal, quasi-criminal or juvenile action, you must complete and sign a criminal case
information statement. A copy of the judgment or order of the trial court or decision of the State
agency, which is the subject of the appeal, should be attached to your case information statement.
