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Appeal Deadline Calculator and Route Checker

Led by Diellza Nika Hyseni and Mentor Nika · Updated 22 October 2026

For a decision in a civil claim in England and Wales, or in detailed assessment: which court hears the appeal, whether permission is needed and from whom, the last day for the appellant’s notice, Form N161 or N164, and the court fee, each with its rule. It never says whether to appeal. Free, from DMD Costs, law costs draftsmen.

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CPR Part 52 and PD 52A to 52C
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Say who made the decision, what kind it was and when. The appeal court, permission, the last day for the appellant’s notice, the form, the fee and the next steps appear with the rule for each. It does not say whether to appeal. Nothing leaves your browser.

Who made the decision?

The proceedings are family, insolvency, Companies Acts or contempt proceedings, a statutory appeal, judicial review, or in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court

Date of the decisionThe day the decision was given at the hearing, or the reserved judgment handed down: not the date of the sealed order.

Did the judge set a different time for the appellant’s notice at that hearing?

NoYes, a number of daysYes, a date

Was the judge who made the decision asked for permission to appeal?

Yes, and grantedYes, and refusedNo

Date the respondent was served with notice that permission was given (or that it will be heard with the appeal)Starts the respondent’s 14 days (CPR 52.13(5)).

Date the appellant’s notice was filedFor the transcript and appeal bundle dates (PD 52B paras 6.2 and 6.3).

The checker applies the Destination of Appeals Order 2016, CPR Part 52, Practice Directions 52A, 52B and 52C, CPR 47.4 and 47.21 to 47.24 with Practice Direction 47 paras 4.2 and 20, and the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 as in force from 13 July 2026, read on legislation.gov.uk and justice.gov.uk on 22 October 2026, with the England and Wales bank holidays. An order of the court governs over the general rule. Points marked “our reading” are our interpretation, not the words of a rule. It is a guide, not legal advice, and it does not advise on whether to appeal.

Key points

DMD Costs’ appeal deadline and route checker is a free online tool that says which court hears an appeal in a civil claim in England and Wales, whether permission is needed and from whom, the last day for the appellant’s notice, the form and the court fee.
An appellant’s notice must be filed within 21 days after the date of the decision, unless the lower court directs a different period at the decision hearing (CPR 52.12(2)). Time runs from the decision, not the sealed order (McDonald v Rose [2019] EWCA Civ 4 at [21]).
The parties cannot agree to extend the time for appealing; an application to vary it must be made to the appeal court (CPR 52.15).
An appeal from a District Judge in the County Court goes to a Circuit Judge; from a Circuit Judge, a Master, a costs judge or a District Judge of the High Court, to a High Court Judge; from a High Court Judge, to the Court of Appeal (Destination of Appeals Order 2016, arts 4 and 5; PD 52A Table 1). Interim or final makes no difference (PD 52A para 3.5). A costs judge’s decision in a case from a London County Court hearing centre, assessed in the Costs Office, is appealed to the Designated Civil Judge for London at the Central London Civil Justice Centre (PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c)).
Permission is needed for any appeal from a judge in the County Court or the High Court (CPR 52.3(1)(a)); for a second appeal, only the Court of Appeal can give it (CPR 52.7; PD 52A para 4.7).
An authorised court officer’s decision on detailed assessment is appealed without permission, within 21 days, to a costs judge or a District Judge of the High Court, as a re-hearing (CPR 47.21 to 47.24; PD 47 para 20).
Small claims appeals use Form N164; other appeals Form N161 (PD 27A para 8A; PD 52B para 4.1). The fee is £151 or £175 in the County Court, £302 in the High Court and £290 on a detailed assessment appeal, from 13 July 2026 (Fees Order Sch 1).

How to use the appeal checker

Say who made the decision. A District Judge or Circuit Judge in the County Court, a Master, costs judge or District Judge of the High Court, a High Court Judge, or an authorised court officer.
Say what kind of decision. Final or interim, a small claim, a decision in detailed assessment, or a decision on an appeal from a costs officer; and whether it was itself made on appeal.
Enter the date of the decision. The day it was given at the hearing or the judgment handed down, and any different period the judge set for appealing.
Say what happened on permission. Whether the judge was asked for permission to appeal, and whether it was granted or refused.
Read the answer. The appeal court, permission, the last day for the appellant’s notice, the form, the fee, the respondent’s notice and the next steps, each with its rule. Copy it for the file.

Routes of appeal in civil cases

The Access to Justice Act 1999 (Destination of Appeals) Order 2016 sets where a first appeal goes, and Table 1 of Practice Direction 52A sets it out for proceedings other than family and insolvency proceedings. The destination is the same whether the decision is interim or final (PD 52A para 3.5). A Recorder counts as a Circuit Judge (PD 52A para 3.4), a Deputy District Judge as a District Judge (County Courts Act 1984, s.5(1)(b)), and a deputy Master or deputy District Judge of the High Court as the office they act in (DoA Order art 4(1)(c)).

Decision of	Decision	Appeal to	Source
District Judge (or deputy) (County Court)	Any, including small claims and detailed assessment	Circuit Judge in the County Court	DoA Order art 5(3); PD 52A Table 1
Circuit Judge or Recorder (County Court)	Any	High Court Judge	DoA Order art 5(1); PD 52A Table 1
Master, costs judge or District Judge (or deputy) (High Court)	Any, including detailed assessment, in a High Court case	High Court Judge	DoA Order art 4(1); PD 52A Table 1; PD 52B para 1.1(c)
Costs judge (London County Court case, assessed in the Costs Office)	Detailed assessment, or an appeal from a costs officer	The Designated Civil Judge for the London Group of County Court hearing centres, or a judge they nominate (notice lodged at the Central London Civil Justice Centre), unless a CPR 47.4(2) order made the Costs Office, as part of the High Court, the appropriate office. Warning: on its face DoA Order art 5(1)(c)(i) points to the High Court; if permission was refused, follow the court the order names (CPR 52.3(3)(b))	PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c); CPR 47.4(2); DoA Order art 5(1)(c)(i)
High Court Judge (High Court)	Any	Court of Appeal	PD 52A Table 1
Authorised court officer	Detailed assessment	Costs judge or District Judge of the High Court (re-hearing, no permission)	CPR 47.22 and 47.24; PD 47 paras 20.2 and 20.4
A judge deciding an appeal	Second appeal	Court of Appeal (permission from it only)	DoA Order art 6; CPR 52.7; PD 52A para 4.7

A second appeal, from a decision itself made on appeal, goes to the Court of Appeal and not to any other court (art 6; PD 52A para 4.7), except where the first decision was an authorised court officer’s: art 6 excludes those, and PD 52A para 3.5 says the same. Our reading is that an appeal from a costs judge’s decision on a costs officer appeal therefore goes to a High Court Judge under art 4 in a High Court case, or, in a case from a London County Court hearing centre assessed in the Costs Office, to the Designated Civil Judge for London (PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c)).

London County Court cases assessed in the Costs Office. A costs judge’s decision in a case from a London County Court hearing centre (Barnet, Brentford, Bromley, Central London, Clerkenwell and Shoreditch, Croydon, Edmonton, Ilford, Kingston, Mayors and City of London, Romford, Uxbridge, Wandsworth or Willesden), assessed in the Costs Office: unless an order under CPR 47.4(2) made the Costs Office, as part of the High Court, the appropriate office, PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c) says the appeal lies to the Designated Civil Judge for the London Group of County Court hearing centres, or a judge they nominate, and the appeal notice is lodged at the Central London Civil Justice Centre. The fee is still fee 5.4. If the costs judge refused permission, the order must say which court any further application goes to (CPR 52.3(3)(b)): follow it. On its face art 5(1)(c)(i) of the Destination of Appeals Order would send such an appeal to the High Court, so the checker does not give one firm answer for these cases.

Permission to appeal

Permission is required for an appeal from a decision of a judge in the County Court or the High Court (CPR 52.3(1)(a)). It may be asked for from the lower court at the hearing at which the decision is made, or an adjournment of it, or from the appeal court in the appellant’s notice (CPR 52.3(2)). If the lower court refuses, a further application can be made to the appeal court, and the order refusing permission must say which court and which level of judge should hear it (CPR 52.3(3)). Permission is given only where the appeal would have a real prospect of success or there is some other compelling reason for it to be heard (CPR 52.6).

In the County Court and the High Court, the appeal court decides permission on paper unless it directs a hearing; a refusal on paper can be reconsidered at an oral hearing if asked for within 7 days after service of the notice of refusal, unless a High Court Judge, a Designated Civil Judge or a Specialist Circuit Judge refuses it as totally without merit and orders that it may not be reconsidered (CPR 52.4). For a second appeal, permission comes only from the Court of Appeal, which needs a real prospect of success and an important point of principle or practice, or some other compelling reason (CPR 52.7). A small claim dealt with without a hearing, or in a party’s absence at their request, needs the permission application to go to the appeal court (PD 27A para 8.2).

The 21-day time limit

The appellant’s notice must be filed at the appeal court within the period the lower court directs at the decision hearing, which may be longer or shorter, or otherwise within 21 days after the date of the decision (CPR 52.12(2)). The 21 days are clear days, so the day of the decision is not counted, and if the last day falls when the court office is closed, filing on the next open day is in time (CPR 2.8). The date of the decision is the date of the hearing at which it is given, ex tempore or by hand-down (McDonald v Rose [2019] EWCA Civ 4 at [21](1)), or, where the decision is announced with reasons to follow, the date of the announcement ([22]). Asking for an adjournment to deal with permission does not stop time running unless the judge extends it ([21](5)).

The parties cannot agree to extend the time (CPR 52.15(2)). A late appellant’s notice must include an application for an extension of time, stating the reason for the delay and the steps taken before applying (PD 52B para 3.2; PD 52C para 4). The sealed notice must then be served on each respondent as soon as practicable and, where the appellant serves it, not later than 14 days after it is sealed (CPR 52.12(3), as amended from 1 October 2025).

The respondent’s notice

A respondent who wants permission to appeal, or wants the decision upheld for different or additional reasons, must file a respondent’s notice (CPR 52.13(2)), on Form N162. It is due 14 days after the respondent is served with the appellant’s notice (where permission was given below or is not needed), or with notification that the appeal court has given permission, or that permission and the appeal will be heard together, unless the lower court directs otherwise; it is served within 7 days after filing (CPR 52.13(4) to (6)).

Forms N161, N164 and N162

Form N161: the appellant’s notice for every appeal except small claims, including the Court of Appeal (PD 52B para 4.1; PD 52C para 3(1)) and appeals from an authorised court officer (PD 47 para 20.3). See our guide to Form N161.
Form N164: the appellant’s notice in small claims (PD 27A para 8A; PD 52A para 4.2). There is no duty to obtain a transcript in a small claims appeal (PD 52B para 6.2), and the cost of an approved transcript reasonably incurred is recoverable (CPR 27.14(2)(i)).
Form N162: the respondent’s notice.

Appeal court fees

From 13 July 2026, under Schedule 1 to the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 (EX50). Fees 2.2 and 2.3 are also paid on a respondent’s notice where the respondent is appealing or asks for the decision to be upheld for other reasons; in the Court of Appeal that second kind of respondent’s notice is fee 13.2.

Fee	When	Amount
2.3(a)	Appellant’s notice, appeal in the County Court, small claims track	£151
2.3(b)	Appellant’s notice, appeal in the County Court, other claims	£175
2.2	Appellant’s notice, appeal to the High Court	£302
5.4	Appeal against a decision in detailed assessment proceedings (in place of 2.2 and 2.3)	£290
13.1(a)	Court of Appeal: notice asking for permission or an extension of time	£663
13.1(b)	Court of Appeal: notice where permission is not needed or was granted below	£1,504
13.1(c)	Court of Appeal: appeal questionnaire, unless fee 13.1(b) was paid	£1,504

The civil court fees calculator has every other civil fee.

Appeals in detailed assessment

An authorised court officer’s decision in detailed assessment proceedings can be appealed by any party (CPR 47.21) to a costs judge or a District Judge of the High Court (CPR 47.22). The appeal notice is filed within 21 days after the decision (CPR 47.23(1)), should be in Form N161, and needs no permission and no written reasons (Practice Direction 47, para 20 paras 20.2 and 20.3). The court serves it and gives notice of the hearing (CPR 47.23(2)), and the appeal is a re-hearing (CPR 47.24; para 20.4). File with it, if possible, a record of the decision: an approved transcript, the officer’s comments on the bill, or agreed advocates’ notes (para 20.5). In the Costs Office, authorised court officers deal with bills of up to £35,000 (senior executive officers) or £110,000 (principal officers), base costs excluding VAT (PD 47 para 3.1).

Cases from the London County Court hearing centres in PD 47 para 4.2(1) are assessed in the Costs Office. There, unless an order under CPR 47.4(2) made the Costs Office, as part of the High Court, the appropriate office, an appeal from any decision of a costs judge, including a decision on an appeal from a costs officer, lies to the Designated Civil Judge for the London Group of County Court hearing centres or a judge they nominate, and the appeal notice is lodged at the Central London Civil Justice Centre (PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c)). The fee is still fee 5.4. Because art 5(1)(c)(i) of the Destination of Appeals Order points to the High Court on its face, check the order: if the costs judge refused permission, it must name the court for any further application (CPR 52.3(3)(b)).

Every other appeal arising out of detailed assessment, or out of a summary assessment, goes under Part 52 to the usual appeal court, with permission (PD 47 para 20.1). An appeal against a decision made in detailed assessment proceedings carries fee 5.4 (£290) in place of fees 2.2 and 2.3. For the steps before any appeal, from the notice of commencement to the final costs certificate, use the detailed assessment deadline calculator.

Where to file: appeal centres

Appeals within the County Court, from the County Court and within the High Court are brought in the appropriate appeal centre, where any respondent’s notice and applications are filed too (PD 52B para 2.1). Table A of PD 52B lists the County Court appeal centre for each hearing centre. Table B lists the High Court appeal centres: Midland, Birmingham; North Eastern, Leeds; Northern, Manchester, with Wrexham listed on the row after it; Wales, Cardiff; Western, Bristol; South Eastern, the Royal Courts of Justice. A costs judge’s decision in a London County Court case assessed in the Costs Office is lodged at the Central London Civil Justice Centre (PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c)). Appeals to the Court of Appeal go to the Civil Appeals Office, by the HMCTS e-filing service where the appellant is legally represented (PD 52C para 3(2)).

After filing

Serve the sealed notice on each respondent as soon as practicable and, where you serve it, within 14 days after sealing (CPR 52.12(3)); then file a certificate of service (PD 52B para 6.1).
Apply for an approved transcript within 7 days of filing where the judgment was officially recorded, or keep the written judgment, or agree a note for the judge to approve (PD 52B para 6.2), except in small claims.
File the appeal bundle within 35 days of filing the notice (PD 52B para 6.3).
In the Court of Appeal: the skeleton argument and approved transcript go in with the notice (PD 52C para 3(4)), and the core bundle for a permission application within 14 days of sealing (para 14).
An appeal is not a stay of the order (CPR 52.16). It is a review, not a re-hearing, unless a practice direction makes different provision or the court considers a re-hearing in the interests of justice (CPR 52.21(1)).

What the checker does not cover

Family proceedings, insolvency (PD 52A Table 2), Companies Acts proceedings and contempt.
Statutory appeals and appeals by way of case stated (PD 52D and PD 52E), judicial review appeals (CPR 52.8 and 52.9) and appeals from tribunals.
The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, leapfrog appeals and appeals to the Supreme Court.
Whether there are grounds of appeal, or whether an appeal should be brought.

CPR deadline calculator, for other CPR time limits
Detailed assessment deadline calculator
Civil court fees calculator
Security for costs checker, including security for the costs of an appeal (CPR 25.29)
Costs order decoder, for what the order under appeal says about costs
All free tools and quick answers

Sources

Destination of Appeals Order 2016 (art 3, art 4, art 5 and art 6); County Courts Act 1984, s.5; Senior Courts Act 1981, Sch 2 Part 2
Civil Procedure Rules Part 52 (rules 52.1, 52.3, 52.4, 52.5, 52.6, 52.7, 52.12, 52.13, 52.15, 52.16 and 52.21), CPR 2.8, CPR 3.1 and CPR 27.14
Practice Direction 52A (paras 2.2, 3.3 to 3.5, Table 1, 4.1 to 4.7 and Section V), Practice Direction 52B (paras 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1 to 4.3, 6.1 to 6.5, 8.3 and Tables A and B), Practice Direction 52C (paras 3, 4, 5A, 7, 9, 14 and 19), Practice Direction 52D, Practice Direction 27A, paras 8.2 and 8A and Practice Direction 2A
CPR Part 47 (rules 47.4, 47.21, 47.22, 47.23 and 47.24) and Practice Direction 47 (paras 3.1, 4.2 and 20)
Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008, Sch 1 (fees 2.2, 2.3, 5.4, 13.1 and 13.2) and EX50 civil court fees
Form N161 (GOV.UK), Form N164 (GOV.UK) and Form N162 (GOV.UK)
McDonald v Rose [2019] EWCA Civ 4

Frequently asked questions

21 days after the date of the decision, unless the lower court directs a different period, longer or shorter, at the hearing where it makes the decision or an adjournment of it (CPR 52.12(2)). Time runs from the date of the decision hearing, not the date of the sealed order (McDonald v Rose [2019] EWCA Civ 4 at [21]). An appeal from an authorised court officer in detailed assessment also has 21 days (CPR 47.23(1)).

In the County Court, to a Circuit Judge in the County Court (Destination of Appeals Order 2016, art 5(3); PD 52A Table 1). From a District Judge of the High Court, sitting in a district registry, to a High Court Judge (art 4(1)). From a Circuit Judge or Recorder, the appeal goes to the High Court (art 5(1)). These routes apply whether the decision is interim or final (PD 52A para 3.5).

Yes, for an appeal from a decision of a judge in the County Court or the High Court (CPR 52.3(1)(a)). Ask the lower court at the decision hearing or the appeal court in the appellant’s notice (CPR 52.3(2)). Permission is given only where the appeal would have a real prospect of success or there is some other compelling reason (CPR 52.6). No permission is needed to appeal an authorised court officer’s decision on detailed assessment (PD 47 para 20.2).

Only with an extension from the appeal court. File the appellant’s notice and include in it an application for an extension of time, stating the reason for the delay and the steps taken before applying (PD 52B para 3.2; in the Court of Appeal, PD 52C para 4). The parties cannot agree to extend the time (CPR 52.15(2)).

A costs order or summary assessment is appealed under Part 52, with permission, to the same appeal court as the decision it was made with (PD 47 para 20.1; Destination of Appeals Order 2016); it can be appealed on its own. A detailed assessment decision of a District Judge or costs judge also goes under Part 52, with permission, to the usual appeal court (PD 47 para 20.1), at fee 5.4. A costs judge’s decision in a case from a London County Court hearing centre, assessed in the Costs Office, is appealed to the Designated Civil Judge for London at the Central London Civil Justice Centre (PD 47 para 4.2(2)(c)). An authorised court officer’s decision goes to a costs judge or a District Judge of the High Court without permission, within 21 days, on Form N161, as a re-hearing (CPR 47.21 to 47.24; PD 47 para 20).

Form N164 for an appeal in a claim allocated to the small claims track (PD 27A para 8A; PD 52A para 4.2), and Form N161 for every other appeal, including appeals to the Court of Appeal (PD 52B para 4.1; PD 52C para 3(1)) and from an authorised court officer (PD 47 para 20.3). A respondent’s notice is on Form N162.

From 13 July 2026: £151 for an appeal in the County Court on the small claims track, £175 in other County Court claims, £302 in the High Court and £290 on an appeal in detailed assessment proceedings, where fees 2.2 and 2.3 do not apply. In the Court of Appeal, £663 where the notice asks for permission or an extension of time, with £1,504 on the appeal questionnaire if permission is granted, or £1,504 where permission was granted below (Fees Order Sch 1).

No. An appeal does not operate as a stay of the order under appeal unless the appeal court or the lower court orders otherwise (CPR 52.16). An application for a stay can be made in the appellant’s notice (PD 52B para 4.3).

No. DMD Costs prepares and negotiates costs for claimant solicitor firms; it does not conduct appeals. The checker is a free guide to the rules on routes, permission, time limits, forms and fees. It does not say whether an appeal has merit or should be brought.

It is free, with no sign-up. It runs in your browser, and what you enter is kept only in that browser so you can come back to it; the clear link removes it. It is a guide to the rules, not legal advice.

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