Appeal Bond

What Does Appeal Bond Mean?

An appeal bond is money provided to a court by a party that is contesting a decision from a lower court—specifically, a decision made against the party’s favor. This bond is required by the appellate court before it can review and decide on the case. The amount is typically substantial to assess the seriousness of the appealing party and to discourage appeals that lack a legitimate basis.

Insuranceopedia Explains Appeal Bond

An appeal bond is also known as a supersedeas bond.

An appeal is filed immediately after a court makes a decision. The defendant who loses the case initiates the appeal through their lawyer. This appeal is processed in a higher court, specifically, the appellate court, which handles appeals.

The appellate court then determines the required bond amount. In civil cases where the dispute involves money, the bond amount is typically at least equal to the amount contested in the case. This ensures that if the appellate court upholds the decision of the lower court, the defendant will be able to pay the plaintiff.