An appeal cannot be taken by a party who confessed judgment in the proceedings in the trial court or who voluntarily and unconditionally acquiesced in a judgment rendered against him. Confession of or acquiescence in part of a divisible judgment or in a favorable part of an indivisible judgment does not preclude an appeal as to other parts of such judgment.
Art. 2085.Limitations On Appeals
Book III. Proceedings in Appellate Courts · Title I. Appellate Procedure · Chapter 1. General Dispositions · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 2085 bars an appeal by a party who confessed judgment or voluntarily and unconditionally acquiesced in an adverse judgment, but still allows an appeal from the remaining parts of a divisible judgment, or from an unfavorable part of an otherwise favorable indivisible judgment.
Full Text of Art. 2085
Plain-English Summary
Confessing a judgment means formally admitting that the opposing party is entitled to it; acquiescing means accepting the judgment through conduct after it was rendered, such as satisfying it without reservation. Article 2085 treats both as a waiver of the right to appeal, because it would be unfair to accept a judgment's terms and then ask an appellate court to undo it.
The bar applies only where the acquiescence is both voluntary and unconditional. That qualifier matters: the article is not aimed at a party who complies with a judgment under compulsion, such as the threat of seizure, or whose conduct leaves the question of appeal open rather than settled.
The second sentence carves out an important exception for judgments made up of more than one part. Confessing or acquiescing in part of a divisible judgment — one whose separate parts can stand independently — does not waive the right to appeal the other parts. And confessing or acquiescing in the favorable part of an indivisible judgment, one that functions as a single unified determination, does not preclude an appeal from the parts of that same judgment the party finds unfavorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to confess a judgment in Louisiana?
It means formally admitting that the opposing party is entitled to the judgment. Article 2085 treats a confessed judgment as one the confessing party cannot later appeal.
Can I still appeal if I complied with part of a judgment?
It depends on whether that compliance was voluntary and unconditional, and whether the judgment is divisible. Article 2085 lets a party accept part of a judgment without losing the right to appeal other parts.
What is the difference between a divisible and an indivisible judgment under this article?
A divisible judgment has separate parts that can stand independently of one another; an indivisible judgment functions as one unified determination. Article 2085 treats confession or acquiescence in part of each differently when deciding what can still be appealed.
If I accept the part of a judgment that favors me, can I still appeal the rest?
Yes, for an indivisible judgment. Article 2085 says that acquiescing in the favorable part of an indivisible judgment does not preclude an appeal from the unfavorable parts of that same judgment.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: confession of judgment Louisiana appealArticle 2085 Louisianaacquiescence in judgment bars appealdivisible versus indivisible judgment Louisianacan I appeal after paying a judgment