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Appeals

Motion to Extend Time to File Brief

Drafting motions to extend time for appellate briefs is a recurring administrative burden that pulls attorneys away from substantive legal work. Researching court rules, formatting requirements, and crafting persuasive good cause arguments can consume hours, especially when juggling multiple deadlines and conflicting trial schedules.

Automation ROI

Time savings at a glance

Manual workflow1.5 hoursAverage time your team spends by hand
With CaseMark8 minutesDelivery time with CaseMark automation
EfficiencySave 11.3x time with CaseMark

The Problem

Drafting motions to extend time for appellate briefs is a recurring administrative burden that pulls attorneys away from substantive legal work. Researching court rules, formatting requirements, and crafting persuasive good cause arguments can consume hours, especially when juggling multiple deadlines and conflicting trial schedules.

The CaseMark Solution

CaseMark automates the entire drafting process by generating court-ready extension motions tailored to your specific circumstances. Simply input your reason for the extension and opposing counsel's position, and receive a professionally formatted, persuasive motion in minutes that complies with appellate court requirements.

Key benefits

How CaseMark automations transform your workflow

Generate court-ready extension motions in 8 minutes instead of 1.5 hours

Ensure compliance with appellate court formatting and procedural requirements

Craft persuasive good cause arguments with AI-powered legal reasoning

Automatically structure introduction, grounds, and opposing counsel position

Reduce administrative burden so you can focus on substantive appellate work

What you'll receive

Introduction
Grounds for Extension
Position of Opposing Counsel
Conclusion and Prayer for Relief

Document requirements

Optional

  • Prior Extension Orders
  • Trial Schedule or Conflicting Matters

Perfect for

Appellate Litigator
Civil Litigator
Paralegal
Solo Practitioner
Law Firm Associate

Also useful for

This workflow is applicable across multiple practice areas and use cases

Commercial litigators frequently need to file appellate briefs when cases are appealed and require extensions due to complex record reviews and conflicting trial schedules.

Commercial litigation cases often proceed to appeal, and attorneys handling both trial and appellate work need efficient tools to request brief filing extensions while managing multiple matters.

Criminal Defense88% relevant

Criminal defense attorneys appealing convictions or sentences regularly need brief extensions to review lengthy trial transcripts and develop constitutional arguments.

Criminal appeals are time-sensitive with strict procedural requirements, and defense counsel often need extensions due to voluminous records and the need for thorough appellate advocacy.

Employment litigators handling appeals of discrimination, wage-hour, or wrongful termination cases need to request brief extensions when managing concurrent trial obligations.

Employment cases frequently reach appellate courts, and practitioners often need extensions to adequately address complex regulatory and statutory issues while balancing active trial dockets.

IP litigators appealing patent, trademark, or copyright decisions need extensions to brief complex technical and legal issues while managing parallel proceedings.

Intellectual property appeals involve highly technical subject matter requiring extensive research and analysis, making extension requests common when attorneys face competing deadlines.

Family Law78% relevant

Family law practitioners appealing custody, support, or property division orders need extensions when handling urgent trial matters or complex financial record analysis.

Family law appeals are common for high-stakes matters, and solo practitioners or small firms often need extensions to balance appellate work with immediate client needs in trial courts.

Frequently asked questions

Q

What constitutes good cause for extending an appellate brief deadline?

A

Good cause typically includes counsel's conflicting trial schedules, case complexity, voluminous record review requirements, or unexpected circumstances. CaseMark helps you articulate these reasons persuasively by structuring your specific circumstances into legally sound arguments that appellate courts recognize as valid grounds for extension.

Q

Do I need opposing counsel's consent to file a motion for extension of time?

A

While consent is not always required, many appellate courts look favorably on stipulated extensions and some local rules require you to confer with opposing counsel first. CaseMark includes a dedicated section for stating whether opposing counsel consents, opposes, or takes no position on your motion, ensuring you address this critical procedural element.

Q

How long does it take to draft a motion to extend time to file a brief?

A

Manually drafting an extension motion typically takes 1-2 hours when accounting for research, formatting, and persuasive writing. CaseMark reduces this to approximately 8 minutes by automating the structure, formatting, and legal reasoning while you simply provide case-specific details.

Q

What information do I need to provide for an appellate brief extension motion?

A

You need to specify the number of days requested, the new deadline date, the reason for the extension (good cause), and opposing counsel's position. CaseMark prompts you for each required element and automatically structures this information into a professionally formatted, court-ready motion.

Q

Can CaseMark ensure my extension motion complies with court rules?

A

Yes, CaseMark generates motions with proper appellate court structure including introduction, grounds for extension, opposing counsel position, and conclusion sections. The output follows standard appellate motion formatting, though you should always verify specific local rules for your jurisdiction.

Q

How many extension requests can appellate courts grant?

A

Most appellate courts allow one or two extensions as a matter of course if good cause is shown, but subsequent requests face greater scrutiny. CaseMark helps you draft compelling motions regardless of whether this is your first or subsequent request by tailoring the good cause argument to your specific circumstances.

Q

What happens if my motion to extend time is denied?

A

If denied, you must file your brief by the original deadline or risk dismissal of your appeal. CaseMark helps you avoid this scenario by generating persuasive, well-structured motions that clearly articulate good cause, increasing the likelihood of approval and giving you the time you need to prepare a quality appellate brief.