Table of contents
- Obtaining a copy of an order
- Contacting a registrar
- Requesting a document from the court file
- Written judgments
- Appealing a Court of Appeal order
When the Court of Appeal has made an order in your case, the order is prepared and signed (this is called being perfected) by a court registrar. This page explains how to get a copy of the order, contact a registrar, request documents from the court file, and apply to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal.
1. Obtaining a copy of an order
Court of Appeal orders are available to parties (if they are not legally represented) or solicitors on record in the appeal. Plain copies will be emailed to the parties by the court registrar on the day they are perfected. For most purposes, plain copies are acceptable.
An attested copy (certified by the court office to be a true copy of the original) is required for some purposes, such as appealing a Court of Appeal order. Court stamp duty of €15.00 applies, unless the proceedings are exempt from fees.
No order is drawn in relation to directions given at the Directions List. If you are not sure of the directions given, the court office can help from the note on the court file.
How to request a copy
If you are representing yourself, you can request a copy of an order. If you are represented by a solicitor, your solicitor must make the request.
Email [email protected] with:
- Court of Appeal record number
- Title of the case
- Date of the order
- (For solicitors) The party you represent
Plain copy orders are returned by email at no charge. Attested copy orders must be collected in person from the Court of Appeal Office by appointment. If you are representing yourself, you will be asked for photographic identification.
If you are unsure whether your order has been perfected, email the Court of Appeal Office.
2. Contacting a registrar
Email [email protected] to contact a registrar. Put the name of the particular registrar in the subject line.
Include in your email:
- Court of Appeal record number
- Title of the case
- Date of the order
- The party you represent
3. Requesting a document from the court file
You can request a copy of a document from the court file if you are representing yourself. If you are represented, your solicitor must make the request.
Email [email protected] with the request.
Court stamp duty of €15.00 applies for each copy of a document. Documents must be collected in person from the Court of Appeal Office, and stamp duty is paid on collection. It may take 2 to 3 working days to prepare copy documents.
4. Written judgments
A written judgment sets out the reasons for a decision delivered by the court. More often, an ex tempore (unwritten) judgment is delivered on the day of the hearing.
Court of Appeal written judgments are available on this website and can be downloaded free of charge.
Requesting an attested copy
Attested copies of written judgments can be requested by email and collected at the Court of Appeal Office on payment of the relevant court stamp duty.
Email [email protected] with:
- Court of Appeal record number
- Title of the case
- Date of the judgment
Court stamp duty for an attested copy is €14.00, plus €1.00 for every four pages. The office will tell you the total payable once they receive your request.
5. Appealing a Court of Appeal order
You do not have a right to appeal a decision of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. You are entitled to apply to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal. This is called an application for leave to appeal.
Leave is only granted where the Supreme Court considers that the case is of general public importance, or that it is in the interests of justice to grant leave.
An application for leave must be made within 21 days of the Court of Appeal order being perfected.
Read more: applying to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal.
