Art. 2251 Execution only in trial court; appellate court judgment

Here's what this means in practice.

If you win a court case and want to actually collect on the judgment (like getting paid money or enforcing a court order), you can't do that through the appeals court. Only the trial court has the power to enforce, or "execute," a judgment.

So if an appellate court rules in your favor, you need to take an extra step before you can collect anything. You must get a certified copy of that appellate court's judgment and file it with the clerk of the trial court where your case started. Once it's filed there, the trial court can then enforce it.

You don't need to warn the other side before you file this paperwork. You can file the certified copy with the trial court clerk without giving them advance notice.