In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
Filing a Notice of Appeal
A Notice of Appeal has to be filed with the court in which your case was first heard (this will be either a municipal or justice court).
- It must be filed no later than 14 days after the ruling, order, judgment, or sentence. You appeal will be dismissed if this deadline is not followed. This 14 days includes holidays and weekends; if your deadline falls on a day when the court is closed, the Notice of Appeal is due the next day the courthouse is open.
- The Notice of Appeal must include your current mailing address and phone number.
- You must identify the judgment, sentence, ruling, and/or order that you want the court to review. Include the date when the judgment was entered and the name of the judge who entered the ruling.
- A Notice of Appeal should be signed.
- Keep a, date-stamped, copy of your Notice of Appeal for your records. The clerk of the court will send a copy to the appellee.