Is the deadline 14 days from the hearing or from the order?

From the order. Rule 8002(a)(1) runs the 14 days from when the judgment, order, or decree is entered, and entry generally means recorded in the docket under Rule 5003(a). A decision announced from the bench does not start the clock. If you file a notice of appeal after the announcement but before entry, it is treated as filed on the date of and after entry (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(2)).

Does filing a motion to reconsider extend my time to appeal?

Sometimes. Under Rule 8002(b)(1), a timely motion to alter or amend the judgment or for a new trial under Rule 9023, a motion under Rule 7052, or a Rule 9024 motion filed within 14 days after entry restarts the appeal clock for all parties from the order deciding the last such motion. A Rule 9024 motion filed later than 14 days after entry does not have that effect.

Can I appeal any ruling, or only final ones?

Appeals as of right are from a judgment, order, or decree. To appeal an interlocutory, meaning non-final, order, you must file a notice of appeal within the Rule 8002 time plus a motion for leave to appeal that sets out the facts, the question, the relief sought, the reasons leave should be granted, and a copy of the order (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8004(a), (b)(1)). Without the motion, the reviewing court may treat the notice as one.

What if I never received notice that the order was entered?

The clerk must promptly serve notice of entry on contesting parties and note service on the docket (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022(a)(1)). But except as Rule 8002 permits, lack of notice of the entry does not affect the time to appeal or authorize the court to relieve a party for failing to appeal in time (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022(a)(2)). Raise this with a lawyer immediately rather than assuming an extension applies.

Who decides my appeal, the district court or a bankruptcy appellate panel?

An appeal from a bankruptcy court's judgment goes to the federal district court or, in circuits that have established a bankruptcy appellate panel and where the parties do not opt out, to that panel. The election is made on the notice of appeal (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)). Which option exists, and the mechanics of electing, depend on your circuit and district, so check your own court's local rules.

Can I ask the district court or BAP to reconsider its own decision?

Yes. A motion for rehearing by the district court or BAP must be filed within 14 days after a judgment on appeal is entered, unless shortened or extended by order or local rule (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8022(a)(1)). It must state with particularity each point of law or fact the court is believed to have overlooked or misapprehended, and oral argument is not permitted (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8022(a)(2), (a)(4)).

What happens if the bankruptcy judge wants to fix something while my appeal is pending?

Rule 8008 covers that. If you file a timely motion for relief the bankruptcy court lacks authority to grant because an appeal is docketed and pending, the court may defer considering it, deny it, state that it would grant the motion if the appellate court remands, or state that the motion raises a substantial issue (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8008(a)). If the court signals either of the last two, you must promptly notify the appellate clerk.

Filing process & court procedure

Appealing or Asking the Bankruptcy Court to Reconsider a Ruling

A bankruptcy court's judgment, order, or decree can be reviewed by the federal district court or, in circuits with one, a bankruptcy appellate panel. A notice of appeal generally must be filed with the bankruptcy clerk within 14 days after the ruling is entered (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(1)). Alternatively, a motion to alter or amend the judgment goes back to the same judge and must be filed within 14 days (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9023(b)).

Key points

The general deadline to file a notice of appeal is 14 days after the judgment, order, or decree is entered, not 14 days after the hearing (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(1)).
A motion to alter or amend a judgment, or for a new trial, must be filed within 14 days after entry, and it resets the appeal clock for everyone (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9023(b), 8002(b)(1)).
A motion for relief from a judgment under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024 covers grounds like mistake and newly discovered evidence, and only resets the appeal clock if filed within 14 days.
Appeals go to the district court or, where one exists, a bankruptcy appellate panel; the notice of appeal is where you make that election (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)).
Lack of notice that the order was entered generally does not extend the time to appeal, except as Rule 8002 allows (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022(a)(2)).

If the judge ruled against you, you have a short window and two different paths: ask the same judge to reconsider, or ask a higher court to review the decision. Both usually run on a 14-day clock that starts when the order hits the docket, not when the judge announced it from the bench. This page explains how each path works, what changes the deadline, and what to ask a lawyer before you decide.

How does the appeal deadline actually work?

A notice of appeal must be filed with the bankruptcy clerk within 14 days after the judgment, order, or decree being appealed is entered (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(1)). "Entered" has a technical meaning: the ruling is entered when it is recorded in the docket under Rule 5003(a), and in some adversary proceedings requiring a separate document, when that document is set out or 150 days have run from the docket entry (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(5)). The practical consequence is that the clock does not start when the judge announces a decision in the courtroom. It starts when the order appears on the docket.

Filing early is allowed. A notice of appeal filed after the court announces a decision but before entry is treated as filed on the date of and after entry (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(2)). If another party appeals first, you generally have 14 days after that first notice was filed, or the time otherwise allowed, whichever is later (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(3)).

What is the difference between appealing and asking the judge to reconsider?

An appeal asks a different, higher court to review what the bankruptcy judge did. A motion to reconsider asks the same judge to take another look. They are different tools with different audiences, and the choice affects both timing and what you can argue.

The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure supply two reconsideration-style motions. Rule 9023 applies Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 in bankruptcy cases and covers a new trial or a motion to alter or amend a judgment, which must be filed within 14 days after the judgment is entered (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9023(b)). Rule 9024 applies Fed. R. Civ. P. 60, which covers relief from a judgment or order on grounds such as mistake, newly discovered evidence, or fraud (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024(a)).

Courts commonly treat a filing captioned "motion to reconsider" as one of these two, depending on what it asks for and when it is filed. The label on the document matters less than the rule it fits under.

Two post-ruling paths compared
Path	Who decides	General deadline	Authority
Notice of appeal	District court or BAP	14 days after entry	Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(1), 8003(a)(1)
Alter or amend judgment; new trial	The same bankruptcy judge	14 days after entry	Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9023(b)
Relief from a judgment or order	The same bankruptcy judge	Set by Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c) as applied	Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024(a)

What changes the answer?

The single biggest variable is whether you file a qualifying post-judgment motion first. If a party timely files a motion to amend or make additional findings under Rule 7052, a motion to alter or amend the judgment or for a new trial under Rule 9023, or a Rule 9024 motion filed within 14 days after the judgment is entered, the time to appeal runs for all parties from entry of the order disposing of the last such remaining motion (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(b)(1)). That means a Rule 9024 motion filed on day 30 does not reset anything, while the same motion filed on day 10 does.

Whether the ruling is final also matters. An appeal from an interlocutory, meaning non-final, order requires both a notice of appeal filed within the Rule 8002 time and a motion for leave to appeal explaining the facts, the question presented, the relief sought, and why leave should be granted (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8004(a), (b)(1)). If you file the notice without the motion, the reviewing court may treat the notice as a motion for leave or order you to file one within 14 days (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8004(d)).

What does federal law say about where the appeal goes?

Bankruptcy judges hear and determine cases and core proceedings referred by the district court, and may enter appropriate orders and judgments, subject to review (28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1)). District courts hold original jurisdiction over cases under title 11 and over civil proceedings arising under, arising in, or related to those cases (28 U.S.C. § 1334(a), (b)). Review of a bankruptcy court's judgment therefore runs to the federal district court, or in circuits that have established one and where the parties do not opt out, to a bankruptcy appellate panel.

The rules make the mechanics concrete. An appeal from a bankruptcy court's judgment, order, or decree to a district court or a BAP may be taken only by filing a notice of appeal with the bankruptcy clerk within the time allowed by Rule 8002 (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)(1)). The notice must conform substantially to Form 417A, be accompanied by the judgment or appealable order being appealed, and be accompanied by the prescribed filing fee (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)(3)). If you mistakenly file it in the wrong court, that court's clerk notes the date received and sends it to the bankruptcy clerk (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(4)).

Where do state or local rules differ?

Bankruptcy is federal, so state law does not change the appeal deadline. What varies is local practice. Each district court may make and amend rules governing practice and procedure in cases within its bankruptcy jurisdiction, and may authorize its bankruptcy judges to make local bankruptcy rules (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9029(a)). Those local rules must be consistent with the federal rules and with Acts of Congress, and cannot duplicate them (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9029(a)(1)(A)).

In practice, local rules and clerk's procedures address things like what accompanies a notice of appeal, how a designation of the record is filed, whether responses to post-judgment motions are permitted, and how an election between the district court and a BAP is processed. Some districts also treat any filing captioned as a motion to reconsider as a Rule 9023 or Rule 9024 motion. We do not publish a verified summary of every district's local appeal rules, so check your own court's website and local rules. Our court finder can point you to the right district.

Whether a bankruptcy appellate panel exists in your circuit, and how you elect between it and the district court
What must accompany the notice of appeal in your district beyond the federal requirements
Whether a response to a post-judgment motion is permitted or only allowed when the court asks
Deadlines for designating the record and ordering hearing transcripts

What does this look like in practice?

Suppose the judge sustains an objection to an exemption you claimed and the order is docketed on a Monday. Your 14-day window under Rule 8002(a)(1) starts from that docket entry. If you believe the judge made a factual or legal error you can point to precisely, a motion to alter or amend under Rule 9023 filed within 14 days puts the question back to the same judge, and under Rule 8002(b)(1) the appeal clock for everyone restarts from the order deciding it.

If instead the problem is that you never received notice of the hearing, or evidence surfaced afterward, Rule 9024 relief under Fed. R. Civ. P. 60 is the closer fit. Note the timing consequence: filed within 14 days after entry, it resets the appeal clock; filed later, it does not.

If an appeal is already docketed and you file a motion the bankruptcy court no longer has authority to grant, the judge may defer, deny, state that the motion would be granted on remand, or state that it raises a substantial issue (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8008(a)). That is called an indicative ruling.

What documents and information are involved?

The core document is the notice of appeal. It must conform substantially to Official Form 417A, be accompanied by the judgment or appealable order or decree being appealed, and be accompanied by the prescribed filing fee (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)(3)). The notice covers all orders that merge into the identified judgment for appeal purposes, so you do not have to list them separately (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)(4)).

A clerical point worth knowing: an appeal must not be dismissed for failing to identify the judgment properly if the notice was filed after entry and identifies an order that merged into it (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)(7)). Failing to take any step other than timely filing the notice does not by itself invalidate the appeal, though it can lead the reviewing court to act, including dismissing the appeal (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)(2)).

Appeal fees are set separately from case filing fees and are not published here as a verified figure. For context, the underlying case fees are fixed by statute.

Notice of appeal on Official Form 417A, signed, with the order attached
The prescribed appeal filing fee, payable when the notice is filed
A statement electing the district court, where a BAP would otherwise hear the appeal
Any motion for leave to appeal, if the order is interlocutory (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8004(a)(2))
Hearing transcripts, which are prepared by outside transcribers, not the clerk

What should you ask a lawyer?

Post-judgment practice is one of the least forgiving corners of bankruptcy, because a missed 14-day window can end the dispute regardless of the merits. Lack of notice of entry generally does not extend the time to appeal or authorize the court to excuse a late filing, except as Rule 8002 allows (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022(a)(2)). That is a strong reason to get advice quickly rather than after the window closes.

Useful questions include whether the order is final or interlocutory, whether a Rule 9023 or Rule 9024 motion is the better first step, and what standard of review the reviewing court would apply to this kind of ruling. Ask what the realistic cost is, including transcripts, and whether the outcome is worth pursuing at all.

If you cannot afford counsel, many bankruptcy courts publish self-represented filer guides and some list legal aid resources. Ask the clerk's office what is available; clerks can explain procedure, though they cannot give legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is the deadline 14 days from the hearing or from the order?: From the order. Rule 8002(a)(1) runs the 14 days from when the judgment, order, or decree is entered, and entry generally means recorded in the docket under Rule 5003(a). A decision announced from the bench does not start the clock. If you file a notice of appeal after the announcement but before entry, it is treated as filed on the date of and after entry (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a)(2)).
Does filing a motion to reconsider extend my time to appeal?: Sometimes. Under Rule 8002(b)(1), a timely motion to alter or amend the judgment or for a new trial under Rule 9023, a motion under Rule 7052, or a Rule 9024 motion filed within 14 days after entry restarts the appeal clock for all parties from the order deciding the last such motion. A Rule 9024 motion filed later than 14 days after entry does not have that effect.
Can I appeal any ruling, or only final ones?: Appeals as of right are from a judgment, order, or decree. To appeal an interlocutory, meaning non-final, order, you must file a notice of appeal within the Rule 8002 time plus a motion for leave to appeal that sets out the facts, the question, the relief sought, the reasons leave should be granted, and a copy of the order (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8004(a), (b)(1)). Without the motion, the reviewing court may treat the notice as one.
What if I never received notice that the order was entered?: The clerk must promptly serve notice of entry on contesting parties and note service on the docket (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022(a)(1)). But except as Rule 8002 permits, lack of notice of the entry does not affect the time to appeal or authorize the court to relieve a party for failing to appeal in time (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022(a)(2)). Raise this with a lawyer immediately rather than assuming an extension applies.
Who decides my appeal, the district court or a bankruptcy appellate panel?: An appeal from a bankruptcy court's judgment goes to the federal district court or, in circuits that have established a bankruptcy appellate panel and where the parties do not opt out, to that panel. The election is made on the notice of appeal (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003(a)). Which option exists, and the mechanics of electing, depend on your circuit and district, so check your own court's local rules.
Can I ask the district court or BAP to reconsider its own decision?: Yes. A motion for rehearing by the district court or BAP must be filed within 14 days after a judgment on appeal is entered, unless shortened or extended by order or local rule (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8022(a)(1)). It must state with particularity each point of law or fact the court is believed to have overlooked or misapprehended, and oral argument is not permitted (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8022(a)(2), (a)(4)).
What happens if the bankruptcy judge wants to fix something while my appeal is pending?: Rule 8008 covers that. If you file a timely motion for relief the bankruptcy court lacks authority to grant because an appeal is docketed and pending, the court may defer considering it, deny it, state that it would grant the motion if the appellate court remands, or state that the motion raises a substantial issue (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8008(a)). If the court signals either of the last two, you must promptly notify the appellate clerk.

Sources

Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002 — Time to File a Notice of Appeal · official source
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8003 — Appeal as of Right—How Taken; Docketing the Appeal
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8004 — Leave to Appeal from an Interlocutory Order or Decree
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8008 — Indicative Rulings
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8022 — Motion for Rehearing
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9023 — New Trial; Altering or Amending a Judgment
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024 — Relief from a Judgment or Order
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9022 — Notice of a Judgment or Order
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9029 — Adopting Local Rules; Limit on Enforcing a Local Rule
28 U.S.C. § 157 — Procedures
28 U.S.C. § 1334 — Bankruptcy cases and proceedings

By Antonio G. Jimenez, Esq. · Florida Bar No. 21022

Sources verified August 1, 2026 · How we verify

Every figure on this page is drawn from a primary legal source and checked against our canonical legal database before publication. Bankruptcy.law is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

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