Opening Brief Standalone - Family Court Navigator
Appeals · 3-Week Draft

Opening Brief Standalone

Already filed Notice on your own? We draft the Opening Appellate Brief - 40 to 60 pages with proper citations and standard of review.

$3,950 one-time
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Parents come to us for this when

Your appeal is underway, and now it's time for the brief that makes your argument.

✓Your Notice is filed and the record is set and the opening brief is the next major step
✓You need your issues organized and formatted to the appeals court's strict rules
✓You want your argument presented clearly with proper citations and structure
✓You're representing yourself on appeal and the brief is the hardest part
The opening brief is where your appeal is won or lost on paper. This organizes and formats your argument to the court's requirements, based on the issues you've identified.

What this is

For parents who already filed the Notice of Appeal themselves and now need the actual opening brief drafted. Same product as our Appellate Opening Brief, just sold separately for parents who do not need the notice/record designation work.

A full opening brief drafted to WASH. R. APP. P. 10.3 standards: statement of the case with record citations, assignments of error, legal argument with RCW and case authority, and conclusion. Typically 40 to 60 pages.

What you get

  • Full opening brief to WASH. R. APP. P. 10.3 standards
  • Statement of the case with precise record citations
  • Standard of review for each issue
  • Assignments of error properly framed
  • Legal argument with RCW and case citations
  • 1 round of corrections included
Why this matters for your case
The opening brief is the heart of any appeal. The Court of Appeals reads this and the response brief, and that is what they decide on. Spending hours hand-drafting your own brief without knowing the formatting rules and citation requirements is a recipe for procedural rejection. We have written enough of these to know what works in Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3.
vs hiring an attorney
The same work. A fraction of the cost.
With an attorney
$9,000-$27,000
Opening Brief drafting (30-60 hours typical)
Hourly rate: $300-$450/hour
Retainer required: $5,000-$15,000
With Family Court Navigator
$3,950
Full Appellate Opening Brief (Notice already filed)
Flat fee. Pay once.
Delivered in 14 business days
You save
$6,050 to $24,050

We are not lawyers, and we do not give legal advice. We are Washington State document specialists who write the same court filings attorneys write - to the same Court of Appeals standards - at a flat fee instead of hourly billing. You stay on the case, you sign, you file. Most pro se appellants never had a real shot at affording an attorney for this work in the first place.

What happens after you buy

  1. You complete the intake right after checkout
    The intake captures the issues, the record on appeal, and your filing deadline. The 3-week turnaround starts when intake is submitted.
  2. We draft the brief (3 weeks)
    Within 3 weeks you receive the full brief in your portal, formatted to RAP 10.3 standards.
  3. You review, request revisions, then file
    1 round of corrections is included. Once approved, you sign and file with the Court of Appeals.
Ready to begin?
Intake right after checkout. 3-week turnaround starts when intake is submitted.
$3,950 one-time
Not sure? Take a 60-second fit check →
Get started →
Need it faster? Rush turnaround is available on request - text (206) 776-3941 to arrange it (separate rush fee applies). Refundable up to 50% before intake.
Want to talk it through first?
60-min Appeals Consultation

Not sure if this is the right service for your case? Talk one-on-one with someone who knows appellate law. We review your order before the call. Walk out with a written plan tailored to your situation.

$200
60-min call · written recap
Book consultation →
Or read first
Plain-English appeals guides

Two Washington-specific guides written for parents handling their own appeal. Read first, decide later. Many parents arrive at services already knowing exactly what they need after reading these.

WA State Appeals Guide
$39
Appellate Brief Writing
$45
Get both - $74 (save $10) →