Rule 808.04. Time for appeal to the court of appeals

(1) An appeal to the court of appeals must be initiated within 45 days of entry of a final judgment or order appealed from if written notice of the entry of a final judgment or order is given within 21 days of the final judgment or order as provided in s. 806.06 (5), or within 90 days of entry if notice is not given, except as provided in this section or otherwise expressly provided by law. Time limits for seeking review of a nonfinal judgment or order are established in s. 809.50.

(1m) An appeal by a record subject under s. 19.356 shall be initiated within 20 days after the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from.

(1s) An appeal under s. 781.10 (2) (d) 5. shall be initiated within 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from.

(2) An appeal under s. 227.60 or 799.445 shall be initiated within 15 days after entry of judgment or order appealed from.

(3) Except as provided in subs. (4) and (7), an appeal in a proceeding under s. 971.17, a criminal case, or a case under ch. 48, 51, 55, 938, or 980 shall be initiated within the time period specified in s. 809.30 (2) or 809.32 (2), whichever is applicable.

(4) Except as provided in sub. (7m), an appeal by the state in a proceeding under s. 971.17, a criminal case under s. 974.05, or a case under ch. 48, 938, or 980 shall be initiated within 45 days of entry of the judgment or order appealed from.

(6) When a party to an action or special proceeding dies during the period allowed for appeal, the time to appeal is the time permitted by law or 120 days after the party’s death, whichever is later. If no personal representative qualifies within 60 days after the party’s death, any appellant may have a personal representative appointed under s. 856.07 (2).

(7) An appeal by a party other than the state from a judgment or order granting adoption shall be initiated by filing the notice required by s. 809.30 (2) (b) within 40 days after the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from. Notwithstanding s. 809.82 (2) (a), this time period may not be enlarged.

(7m) An appeal from a judgment or order terminating parental rights or denying termination of parental rights shall be initiated by filing the notice required by s. 809.107 (2) within 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from.

(7p) An appeal from a judgment or order under s. 809.104 shall be initiated by filing the notice required by s. 809.104 (2) (b) within 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from.

(8) If the record discloses that the judgment or order appealed from was entered after the notice of appeal or intent to appeal was filed, the notice shall be treated as filed after that entry and on the day of the entry.

Committee Notes

NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 47 contains explanatory notes.

Judicial Council Note, 1983: Sub. (2) requires expedited initiation of appeals in recall and eviction cases as well as cases in which the validity of a state law is attacked in federal district court. Sub. (3) references the appeal deadline for criminal, juvenile, mental commitment and protective placement appeals. Sub. (4) references the appeal deadline for appeals by the state in criminal and children’s code cases. [Bill 151-S]

Effective date noteJudicial Council Note, 1986: The amendment to sub. (1) clarifies the time limit for notice of entry by cross-referencing s. 806.06 (5). [Re Order eff. 7-1-86]

Effective date noteJudicial Council Note, 1986: Subs. (3) and (4) are amended by removing references to a repealed statute. Sub. (7) requires a party other than the state to commence an appeal from a judgment or order terminating parental rights or granting an adoption by filing notice of intent to pursue relief in the trial court within 40 days after entry. It also prohibits enlargement of this time by the court of appeals. [Re Order eff. 7-1-87]

Judicial Council Note, 1992: Subsection (8) is analogous to Rule (4) (a) (2) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is intended to avoid the delay, confusion and prejudice which can result from dismissing appeals solely because they are filed before the judgment or order appealed from is entered. Appeals from judgments or orders which have not been entered are still dismissable. [Re Order effective July 1, 1992]

Judicial Council Note, 2001: The word “final” has been inserted before “judgment or order” in sub. (1). The amendment specifies that the 45- or 90-day time limit applies in appeals from final orders and the 14-day time limit in s. 809.50 applies to appeals from nonfinal orders. [Re Order No. 00-02 effective July 1, 2001]