Form N162 UK: Respondent's Notice for Appeals Guide

What this document is

Form N162 is the official Respondent's Notice used in the civil appeal process in England and Wales. It is the counterpart to Form N161, which is filed by the appellant. Any respondent who wants to participate actively in an appeal, rather than simply relying on the lower court's reasoning, will typically need to file N162.

You would use it if you want to ask the appeal court to uphold the original order for reasons the lower court did not give, or if you want to challenge part of the order yourself (a cross-appeal, which usually needs permission from the court). The form applies to appeals to the County Court, the High Court (other than the Family Division), and the Court of Appeal Civil Division.

Family Division appeals use different paperwork. The form sits under Part 52 of the Civil Procedure Rules, which sets out the framework for appeals, time limits, and what supporting material must accompany the notice, including grounds, a skeleton argument, and the relevant bundle of documents.

How to use this document

1. Confirm the form is right for your appeal. N162 covers civil appeals in the County Court, the High Court outside the Family Division, and the Court of Appeal Civil Division. If your case is a family matter in the High Court Family Division, you will need a different form. Double-check the court that made the order being appealed before you start filling anything in.
2. Fill in the case details and parties. Enter the case or claim number exactly as it appears on the original order, the full title of the case, and the names of each party. Note whether there are additional respondents, provide a realistic time estimate for the appeal hearing, and specify which order or orders are being appealed along with the date they were made.
3. Set out your position on permission and grounds. Indicate whether you need permission to appeal (needed if you are cross-appealing) or whether permission is not required because you are simply responding. Include whether you hold a Civil Legal Aid Certificate and whether the appeal raises any Human Rights Act 1998 issues. Then draft clear, numbered grounds for your appeal or for upholding the order.
4. Prepare your skeleton argument and requested outcome. Attach a skeleton argument that explains why each ground should succeed, referring to the evidence and any authorities you rely on. State clearly what decision you want the appeal court to make, for example dismissing the appeal, varying part of the order, or granting your cross-appeal. Add any other applications you are making in Parts A and B.
5. File the notice and serve it on the other parties. List the documents going into your bundle, such as the respondent's notice itself, witness statements, affidavits, and relevant court orders. File within the deadline set by the appeal court or the Civil Procedure Rules, pay the court fee (check gov.uk for the current amount), and serve copies on every other party as required.

Common questions