Senior courts
Court of Appeal, Supreme Court & ECHR
The three courts that sit above the Court of Protection's own tiers. Each hears a different kind of argument and has its own deadline — and each expects you to have used the everyday routes first.
Court of Appeal
Hears appeals from High Court judges of the Court of Protection (Tier 3). It reviews whether the decision was wrong in law or seriously unfair — it does not re-hear the evidence.
Deadline: Usually 21 days from the order, unless the judge sets a different period.
UK Supreme Court
The final court in the UK. It only takes cases raising an arguable point of law of general public importance — this is where Aintree, Cheshire West, ACCG and JB were decided.
Deadline: Usually 42 days from the final order of the court below.
ECtHR
Not an appeal court. It hears complaints that the UK has breached the European Convention on Human Rights — most often Article 5 (liberty) and Article 8 (private and family life) in these cases.
Deadline: Strict: within 4 months of the final domestic decision. Miss it and the case is inadmissible.
Try these first
Senior courts expect you to have raised the concern properly first. The escalation letters and the appeals ladder cover most of what comes before.
General information, not legal advice. These are public courts — they are never sponsored or paid listings.