apelacja

Apelacja, in Polish law, is the remedy by which a party can challenge a final judgment of a court of first instance to a higher court. In Poland, it serves as the principal second‑instance review and is heard by the court of appeal (sąd apelacyjny). The appeal must be filed within a statutory period, typically 14 days from the date of delivery or pronouncement of the judgment, with specifics depending on the case type.

The grounds for an apelacja include errors in applying the law, incorrect assessment of evidence, or procedural irregularities. The appellant must indicate the grounds and the relief sought, such as overturning or modifying the decision. The appellate court reviews the case on the basis of the first‑instance file and the arguments presented in the appeal, and may affirm, reverse, or modify the decision. In some circumstances, it may remand the case to the first instance for further proceedings.

A successful apelacja can be followed by a cassation appeal (skarga kasacyjna) to the Supreme Court on defined legal grounds, rather than a full reexamination of facts. In addition to civil and criminal matters, there are related procedures in other branches of law, where different remedies may apply. Overall, apelacja functions as the central mechanism for correcting errors in courts of first instance within the Polish judicial system.