The right of appeal shall be as provided by law.
Rule 81.01.Right of Appeal.
Part I · Rule 81: Appeals · Last amended January 1, 1980 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 81.01 confirms that the right to appeal in Missouri civil cases comes from statute, not from Rule 81 itself, so a party can appeal only when some other law authorizes that particular appeal.
Full Text of Rule 81.01
Amendment History
Adopted June 13, 1979, eff. Jan. 1, 1980.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 81.01 is one sentence, and its brevity is the point. The right to appeal a judgment, decree, or order in Missouri does not come from this rule or from any of the rules that follow it. It comes from statute. Rule 81 and the rules around it tell a party how to appeal once a right to appeal exists; they do not create that right in the first place.
That distinction matters before a party ever drafts a notice of appeal. Not every trial court ruling can be appealed. Final judgments generally can be. Many interlocutory orders — rulings issued along the way, before the case ends — can be appealed only if a statute specifically says so. A party who wants to appeal needs to confirm, separately from Rule 81, that some law grants an appeal from the particular order at issue.
Because Rule 81.01 sets no deadline, no procedure, and no form, it functions as a gatekeeper for the rest of the rule group. Everything that follows — filing a notice of appeal, docket fees, the record on appeal, supersedeas bonds — assumes a right of appeal already exists under some other law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “the right of appeal shall be as provided by law” mean?
It means Rule 81 does not itself grant anyone the right to appeal. That right must come from a statute or other law.
Does every court ruling carry a right to appeal?
No. Final judgments are usually appealable, but many interlocutory orders can be appealed only if a statute specifically authorizes it.
Where do I find out whether I can appeal a particular order?
Look to the statute governing appeals in your type of case, not to Rule 81.01 itself, which only confirms that such a statute must exist.
Does Rule 81.01 itself let me appeal?
No. It confirms that the right to appeal must come from elsewhere; it does not grant that right on its own.
What happens if no statute authorizes an appeal from my order?
Without statutory authorization, there is no right to appeal that order, regardless of how the rest of Rule 81 is followed.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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