When a money judgment is entered against a defendant, the prevailing party can begin collection immediately — garnishments, abstracts of judgment, account freezes — unless the judgment is stayed by an appellate bond. We write every category of appellate bond in every U.S. court: state and federal supersedeas, appeal, cost on appeal, and the admiralty stipulation for value on appeal. Standard and non-standard programs. Same-day issuance for qualified files.
The judgment-debtor's defense against the collection clock is the supersedeas bond — a surety instrument that stays execution while the appellate court reviews the trial-court judgment. Without the bond, the prevailing party can begin enforcement immediately: garnishing wages and accounts, recording abstracts of judgment against real estate, executing on personal property. The appeal continues, but the appellant's assets are eroding the entire time. With the bond, execution is halted and the appellate court reviews the case on its merits without the parties' financial posture changing.
Different appellate instruments serve different practical purposes. The supersedeas bond is the formal statutory term used by most state procedural codes and the federal rules. The appeal bond is the lay term for the same instrument. The cost bond secures only court costs on appeal — typical of non-resident appellants and FRAP 7 motions. The stipulation for value on appeal is the federal admiralty equivalent. Each has its own form, its own filing rules, and its own underwriting profile.
What distinguishes our appellate practice is statutory fluency. State supersedeas rules are inconsistent — Texas caps the bond at the lesser of half net worth or $25 million; Florida caps at $50 million; California uses 1.5× the judgment; New York provides an automatic stay subject to bond. We underwrite to each state's specific framework and draft each bond to satisfy the receiving court's form requirements.
Four distinct appellate instruments cover virtually every appellate posture in U.S. practice. Choose the right instrument for your case.
State supersedeas rules vary widely. The bond multiplier, the statutory cap, the filing court, and the procedural sequence are state-specific. Our state pages cover each jurisdiction's controlling statute with linked citations.
Appellate bond underwriting is the most rigorous in court bond practice. The risk profile is unusually concentrated: most appeals are not reversed, meaning the surety expects to pay most bonds. Collateral is the standard expectation. We accept three forms — cash held in escrow, an irrevocable letter of credit from a federally insured bank, or U.S. Treasury securities (CUSIP'd to the surety's custody, for bond penalties over $5M). We do not accept real property, tangible assets, UCC filings, or assignments. See our collateral page for detail.
Non-collateralized appellate bonds are available through our non-standard program for applicants with substantial unencumbered net worth and strong liquid position. Audited financials, three years of tax returns, personal financial statements for principals, and confirmation of no pending claims are required for non-collateralized placement. Premium is higher for non-collateralized bonds.
Three documents start every appellate file: the judgment being appealed, the notice of appeal (or motion that triggered the bond requirement), and a financial statement appropriate to the bond size. For state-specific cap claims (Texas §52.006 in particular), add the affidavit of net worth. Most files clear underwriting same business day for qualified collateralized placements.
Send the judgment and the notice of appeal. Our underwriters open the file and respond immediately, 7/52/365.