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CR-132 Notice of Appeal

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Notice of Appeal (Misdemeanor)

CR-132
Notice of Appeal
(Misdemeanor)

Clerk stamps date here when form is filed.

Instructions

  • This form is only for appealing in a misdemeanor case. You can get other forms for appealing in a civil or infraction case at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms.
  • Before you fill out this form, read Information on Appeal Procedures for Misdemeanors (form CR-131-INFO) to know your rights and responsibilities. You can get form CR-131-INFO at any courthouse or county law library or online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms.
  • You must file this form no later than 30 days after the trial court issued the judgment or order you are appealing (see rule 8.853(b) of the California Rules of Court for very limited exceptions). If your notice of appeal is late, the court will not take your appeal.
  • Fill out this form and make a copy of the completed form for your records.
  • Take or mail the completed form to the clerk's office for the same trial court that issued the judgment or order you are appealing. It is a good idea to take or mail an extra copy to the clerk and ask the clerk to stamp it to show that the original has been filed.

You fill in the name and street address of the court that issued the judgment or order you are appealing:

Superior Court of California, County of

You fill in the number and name of the trial court case in which you are appealing the judgment or order:

Trial Court Case Number:

Trial Court Case Name:

You fill in the appellate division case number (if you know it):

Appellate Division Case Number:

1) Your Information

a. Name of appellant (the party who is filing this appeal):

Name:

b. Appellant's contact information (required):

Street address:

Street City State Zip

Mailing address (if different):

Street City State Zip
Phone: E-mail:

c. Appellant's lawyer in the trial court proceedings:

The lawyer filling out this form is is not representing the appellant in this appeal.

If a court-appointed lawyer on appeal is being requested, see item 4

Name:

State Bar number:

Street address:

Street City State Zip

Mailing address (if different):

Street City State Zip
Phone: Fax: E-mail:
Trial Court Case Number: Trial Court Case Name:

2) Judgment or Order You Are Appealing

I am/My client is appealing (check one):

a. The final judgment of conviction in this case (Pen. Code, § 1466(b)(1)).

I am/My client is contesting only the conditions of the probation.

b. The following order made after the judgment in this case that affects an important right of mine/my client (for example, an order after a probation violation) (Pen. Code, § 1466(b)(1)).

An order modifying the conditions of probation.

Other (describe the action you are appealing and give the date the trial court took the action):

c. The trial court has not yet issued a final judgment in this case. I am appealing before final judgment an order that denied a motion to suppress evidence in this case (Pen. Code, § 1538.5(j)).

d. Other action (describe the action you are appealing and give the date the trial court took the action):

3) Record on Appeal

(See form CR-131-INFO for information about the record on appeal.)

a. I have attached a completed Notice Regarding Record on Appeal (Misdemeanor) (form CR-134).

b. I have not attached a Notice Regarding Record on Appeal (Misdemeanor) (form CR-134). I understand that I must file this notice in the trial court within either (1) 20 days after I file this notice of appeal or, if it is later, (2) 10 days after the court appoints a lawyer for me (if I file a request for a court-appointed lawyer within 20 days after I file my notice of appeal). I also understand that if I do not file the notice on time, the court will not be able to consider what was said in the trial court in deciding whether an error was made in the trial court proceedings. In addition, I understand that if I am represented by a court-appointed lawyer and I do not file the notice regarding the record on time, the court may appoint a new lawyer. If I represent myself or hire a lawyer to represent me, and I do not file the notice regarding the record on time, the court may dismiss my appeal.

4) Court-Appointed Lawyer

a. Do you/Does your client want to be represented by a court-appointed lawyer in this appeal? (Answer yes or no.)

Yes. Complete and attach Request for Court-Appointed Lawyer in Misdemeanor Appeal (form CR-133).

No.

b. Were you/Was your client represented by the public defender or other court-appointed lawyer in the trial court? (Answer yes or no.)

Yes.

No. If you answered yes to 4a, complete and attach Defendant's Financial Statement on Eligibility for Appointment of Counsel and Reimbursement and Record on Appeal at Public Expense (form MC-210).

REMINDER—Except in the very limited circumstances listed in rule 8.853, you must file this form no later than 30 days after the trial court issued the judgment or order you are appealing in your case. If your notice of appeal is late, the court will not take your appeal.

Date:

Type or print your name

Signature of appellant or attorney

Judicial Council of California, www.courts.ca.gov

Revised January 1, 2019, Optional Form

Cal. Rules of Court, rules 8.852, 8.853

Notice of Appeal

(Misdemeanor)

CR-132, Page 2 of 2

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What the CR-132 Notice of Appeal Is and When it Applies

The CR-132 Notice of Appeal is a formal written statement used to start an appellate proceeding by notifying the clerk and other parties that a party intends to appeal a lower-court decision. It identifies the case, the parties filing the appeal, and the judgment or order being appealed, and it triggers docketing and service obligations under applicable court rules. While form names and exact requirements vary by jurisdiction, the notice performs the core function of preserving appellate rights and beginning the appeal record for the reviewing court.

Why the CR-132 Notice of Appeal Matters

Filing a timely, accurate CR-132 Notice of Appeal preserves your appellate rights, starts the official appeals process, and sets deadlines for transcripts and record preparation.

Why the CR-132 Notice of Appeal Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Receives a CR-132 Notice of Appeal

Different participants prepare, file, or receive the notice depending on representation status and case type.

  • Appellants and their attorneys who need to preserve appeal rights and set procedural deadlines.
  • Opposing parties and their counsel as required recipients for service and to allow record preparation.
  • Court clerks and appellate administrators who docket the appeal and notify the trial court if needed.

Accurate preparation and proper service are essential to avoid dismissal or procedural sanctions.

Typical Signatories and Preparers

Appellant Attorney

An attorney representing the appellant completes and signs the notice, confirms service on opposing counsel, and files with the appellate clerk. They typically attach any required civil cover sheet or filing fee evidence and verify deadlines for record preparation in local appellate rules.

Self-Represented

A party acting pro se must fill the CR-132 carefully, use the exact case caption, serve all required parties, and check local rules for timing; mistakes by unrepresented filers commonly lead to dismissal or the need for corrective filings.

Essential Information to Include on the Notice

Case caption: Plaintiff v. Defendant
Court name: Trial court name
Case number: Trial court docket number
Appellant name: Full legal name
Order appealed: Date and title
Signature block: Signer name and date

Consequences of Errors or Late Filing

Late filing: Possible dismissal
Incorrect party listed: Service defects
Wrong court: Processing delay
Missing filing fee: Rejection or hold
Improper service: Invalid notice
Incomplete information: Motion to strike

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Listing the wrong case number or failing to use the exact trial-court caption, which can prevent correct docketing and cause administrative rejection.
  • Relying on an incorrect filing deadline; appellate time limits vary by jurisdiction and are frequently strict with limited extensions available.
  • Not properly serving every required party or using an improper service method, which may make the notice ineffective against an opponent.
  • Submitting a notice without attaching required supporting documents or paying applicable filing fees, leading to processing delays or returned filings.

Step-by-step: Completing the CR-132 Notice of Appeal

Follow this streamlined sequence to complete, file, and serve the notice while meeting basic procedural requirements.

  • 01
    Prepare document: Enter caption, case number, and order details.
  • 02
    Sign and date: Signer prints name and signs in full.
  • 03
    File with clerk: Submit paper or e-file per local rules.
  • 04
    Serve parties: Deliver copies and proof of service.

Where to File and How the Notice Moves Through the System

Filing and service methods determine how the appeal is docketed and when subsequent deadlines begin.

  • File with clerk: Submit the notice at the trial court clerk or via authorized e-filing.
  • Docketing: Clerk assigns an appellate docket number and logs the appeal.
  • Serve parties: Serve all required parties and file proof of service.
  • Record preparation: Court or parties arrange transcripts and record for review.

How to Complete the CR-132 Notice of Appeal Online

A typical e-filing workflow uses a fillable PDF or court e-filing portal and includes signature capture and proof-of-service generation.

Action Typical setting
Upload document Use a court-approved PDF or fillable template
Place fields Add name, case number, date, signature, service method
Signer authentication Email link or SMS code for pro se or counsel
Export proof Generate signed PDF and proof-of-service record

Technical Considerations for eFiling and eSigning

Ensure the platform supports court-ready PDF output, basic signer authentication, and an auditable completion record.

  • File formats: PDF, DOCX acceptable
  • Integrations: Supports Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
  • Auth options: Email, SMS code

Confirm the court's e-filing rules for accepted formats and any required metadata before submitting to avoid rejection.

Timing Notes and When to Act

Appeal timelines depend on jurisdiction, the type of order appealed, and whether the matter is civil, criminal, or family law; always consult local appellate rules.

Appeal filing deadline:

Varies by jurisdiction; consult local rules

Service deadline:

Often concurrent with filing or shortly after

Transcript request deadline:

Set by appellate procedure; prompt action required

Record completion:

Depends on court scheduling

Extensions:

Limited; usually require motion and good cause

Key Milestones After Filing a Notice of Appeal

After filing the notice, a predictable sequence begins; missing any stage can jeopardize the appeal.

01

File Notice

Clerk accepts and dockets the appeal.

02

Serve Opposing Parties

Proof of service must be filed promptly.

03

Order Record Preparation

Request transcripts and assemble clerk's record.

04

Submit Appellate Briefing Schedule

Court sets deadlines for briefs and oral argument.

Practical Examples of How the Notice Is Used

Two short examples illustrate common scenarios for filing a CR-132 Notice of Appeal.

Example 1

A civil plaintiff files a notice to appeal a summary judgment ruling

  • The plaintiff serves counsel of record the same day
  • The notice triggers transcript ordering and establishes briefing deadlines while preserving appellate issues.

Example 2

A self-represented defendant uses a CR-132 to appeal a minor sanction order

  • The defendant mails the notice and files proof of service
  • The clerk dockets the appeal and provides instructions for record preparation and briefing timetables.

eSignature Pricing Snapshot for Notice Preparation Tools

Compare basic pricing and core capabilities for common eSignature providers; signNow is listed first per vendor-labeling rules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions About CR-132 Notices of Appeal

Answers to common practical and procedural questions about preparing, filing, and serving a CR-132 Notice of Appeal.


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