Most Florida litigators know that an appeal begins with the filing of a notice of appeal in the trial court. In my experience, fewer trial attorneys are also familiar with the initial steps for an appellant to properly set up the appeal and perfect the record. No attorney wants to be embarrassed in front of their client and the appellate court later in the process by having to scramble to fix problems that should have been avoided. This discussion of the initial steps for setting up an appeal of a final order in a civil case (including family law cases) under Fla. R. App. P. 9.110 in Florida’s state courts will help save you time and eliminate friction in the process. Please note that certain steps or other nuances may differ for some other kinds of appeals, and you should always consult the applicable rules of appellate procedure for your specific matter.