Rule 81.20 Record on Appeal - Extension or Reduction of Time for Filing

When you appeal a case in Missouri, you have to file something called the "record on appeal." This is basically the official paperwork and documents from your case that the appeals court will look at. There's normally a deadline for getting this filed.

This rule gives the appeals court the power to change that deadline. The court can give you more time to file the record, or it can shorten the time you have. This can happen because someone asked for the change, or the court can decide to do it on its own, even if nobody requested it.

In practice, this means the filing deadline isn't always set in stone. If you need more time because of delays in getting documents together, you can ask the court for an extension. On the other hand, the court also has the authority to speed things up if it wants the case to move faster.