The appellate court, either on application or on its own motion, may enlarge or shorten the time for filing the record on appeal.
Rule 81.20.Record on Appeal--Extension or Reduction of Time for Filing.
Part I · Rule 81: Appeals · Last amended January 1, 1994 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 81.20 gives the appellate court discretion to lengthen or shorten the deadline for filing the record on appeal, whether a party asks or the court acts on its own.
Full Text of Rule 81.20
Amendment History
Adopted June 13, 1979, eff. Jan. 1, 1980. Renumbered from Rule 81.19 and amended June 1, 1993, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 81.20 is a short, purely discretionary rule that backstops the deadlines set in Rule 81.19. The appellate court, either on a party's application or on its own motion, can enlarge or shorten the time allowed for filing the record on appeal. The rule sets no outer limit and no standard the court has to apply; it confirms the court's authority to adjust the filing deadline as the case requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get more time to file the record on appeal?
Yes. Rule 81.20 lets the appellate court enlarge the time for filing the record on appeal, on application or on its own motion.
Does the court have to wait for a motion to shorten the deadline?
No. The appellate court can shorten the time on its own motion, without a party asking.
Where do I ask for an extension?
In the appellate court where the appeal is pending.
Is there a limit on how much extra time the court can give?
The rule sets no fixed limit; it leaves the amount of enlargement to the appellate court's discretion.
What rule sets the underlying deadline this rule can adjust?
Rule 81.19, which sets the thirty-day and ninety-day filing deadlines for the record on appeal.
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
Also known as: extension record on appealextend appeal record deadlineshorten filing deadline appealmore time to file the record