Instafill.ai
7 days free
AI form filling · 37 fields · 2 pages · done in seconds

Yes! You can use AI to fill out Form CR-137, Abandonment of Appeal (Misdemeanor)

Don't type 37 fields by hand. Tell our AI about yourself, or upload a document you already have, and it fills every field in seconds. You check it, then download, print or sign.

7 days free, then $19.99/month · Cancel anytime
AI fills it, no typingEncrypted, never used to train AICancel in two clicks
Form CR-137, Abandonment of Appeal (Misdemeanor), page 1
Basic · 37/100Form Complexity Index

The AI does the filling. You just check it.

No typing into boxes, nothing to install.

Tell the AI about youAnswer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. That is all the typing there is.
AI fills every field in secondsIt puts each answer in the right box on every page, checkboxes included.
Check it and downloadReview every field, change anything, then download, print or sign the PDF.

What this form asks for

The AI fills all of it, from your answers or your documents.

Form CR-137 is a legal document used in the California court system for an appellant to formally declare they are giving up, or abandoning, their appeal in a misdemeanor case. Filing this form with the appellate division clerk's office effectively ends the appeal process, making the trial court's judgment final. Today, this form can be filled out quickly and accurately using AI-powered services like Instafill.ai, which can also convert non-fillable PDF versions into interactive fillable forms.
Fillable fields37
Pages2
Form Complexity IndexBasic, 37/100

The AI checks your answers before you download

13 checks built for this form, so a wrong date or a missing answer is caught before anyone else sees it.

Ensures Trial Court County is Provided

This validation checks that the county name for the 'Superior Court of California, County of' field is filled in. This information is critical for identifying the correct court jurisdiction where the original case was heard. Without this, the form cannot be routed to the proper appellate division clerk for processing.

Validates Trial Court Case Number Presence

This check verifies that the 'Trial Court Case Number' field is not empty. This number is the primary unique identifier for the case being appealed and is essential for the court to locate the correct case file. A submission without this number would be rejected as it cannot be processed.

Confirms Filer Identity is Provided

This validation ensures that either the appellant's information (Section 1b) or their lawyer's information (Section 1a) is completed, including name and address. The court must be able to identify and contact the party filing the abandonment. If neither section is filled out, the filing is considered anonymous and invalid.

Validates State Bar Number Format

If a lawyer's information is provided in Section 1a, this rule validates that the 'State Bar number' is a valid numerical format (e.g., a 5-6 digit number). This is important for verifying the attorney's credentials and their authority to act on behalf of the appellant. An invalid number would flag the submission for review to prevent unauthorized filings.

Standardizes Phone Number Format

This check ensures that all phone number fields are entered in a consistent, valid format, such as a 10-digit number. Proper formatting is essential for the court's communication systems and ensures they can successfully contact the filer if needed. Submissions with invalid formats will be rejected to prevent communication failures.

Verifies Email Address Structure

This validation checks that any provided email address follows the standard '[email protected]' format. This is crucial for official electronic communication and service of documents from the court. An invalid email address would cause important notifications to fail, potentially jeopardizing the case.

And 7 more checks
  • Ensures ZIP Code is a Valid Format
  • Requires Printed Name for Signature
  • Requires Signature Date
  • Cross-Validates Signer's Identity
  • Ensures Case Number Consistency Across Pages
  • Requires Full Address if Street is Provided
  • Validates Defendant Name in Case Title

Let AI fill out your CR-137

No typing. Every field filled in seconds, checked, ready to sign.

7 days free, then $19.99/month · Cancel anytime

How to Fill Out CR-137 Online for Free in 2026

What the AI walks you through.

  1. Navigate to Instafill.ai and upload or select the Form CR-137, Abandonment of Appeal (Misdemeanor).
  2. Provide the court and case information, including the Superior Court name, trial court case number and name, and the appellate division case number.
  3. Enter the personal information for the appellant (the person appealing) or their lawyer, including name, address, and contact details.
  4. Review the pre-filled statement on page 2 that confirms the abandonment of the appeal.
  5. Use the AI assistant to verify that all required fields are completed accurately and all information is correct.
  6. Date and sign the form. The signature can be from the appellant or their attorney.
  7. Download the completed form, make a copy for your records, and file the original with the appellate division clerk's office.

Common Mistakes in Completing CR-137

The ones the AI is built to catch.

Incomplete Court Identification
Filers often write a generic court name, such as 'Superior Court,' without specifying the county. This happens when they don't have the original court documents handy for reference. An incomplete court name can cause the form to be rejected or sent to the wrong courthouse, leading to significant delays in processing the abandonment of the appeal.
Mixing Up Trial and Appellate Case Numbers
This form requires both the original Trial Court Case Number and the Appellate Division Case Number. Filers frequently confuse the two, place them in the wrong fields, or omit the appellate number even when it has been assigned. This error can cause major processing delays as court clerks must manually search for the correct case files to link the abandonment.
Incorrectly Formatting the Trial Court Case Name
The form pre-fills the case name as 'The People of the State of California v.' and expects the user to only enter the defendant's name. A common mistake is to re-type the entire phrase or enter a name that doesn't exactly match court records. This can lead to filing errors and difficulty linking the abandonment to the correct case in the court's system.
Forgetting to Complete the Header on Page 2
Many people focus on the main body of the form and forget to fill out the repeating information in the header of the second page. The header requires the Appellate Division Case Name and Number to be entered again. If the pages are separated during processing, an unlabeled second page can be lost, rendering the filing incomplete and ineffective.
Filling Out the Attorney Section When Self-Represented
Appellants representing themselves (in 'pro per') sometimes mistakenly fill out Section 1a, which is exclusively for an attorney's information. This creates confusion for the court regarding who is officially representing the appellant. If you do not have a lawyer for the appeal, you must skip Section 1a entirely and complete your personal information in Section 1b.
Mismatched Signature and Printed Name
In Section 3, the signature must belong to the person whose name is printed below it, whether that is the appellant or their attorney. A frequent error is for one person to sign but print another's name, which can invalidate the document. This raises legal questions about who authorized the abandonment of the appeal, leading to rejection of the form.
Using the Form for an Ineligible Case Type
This form, CR-137, is explicitly for abandoning an appeal in a misdemeanor case. A critical mistake is using it for a felony, an infraction, or a civil case. Filing the wrong form will result in an automatic rejection by the court clerk, wasting valuable time and potentially causing the filer to miss strict deadlines for abandoning the appeal through the correct procedure.
Omitting the Signature Date
The date of the signature is a legally significant part of the form, as it establishes the precise moment the appellant formally gives up their appeal rights. Forgetting to fill in the date in Section 3 is a common oversight that can lead to the form being rejected and returned for correction. This simple mistake can delay the final resolution of the case.
Submitting an Illegible Handwritten Form
Because this form is available as a PDF, many people print it and fill it out by hand. If the handwriting is not perfectly clear, court clerks may be unable to read critical information like names or case numbers, leading to data entry errors or outright rejection of the form. To prevent this, it is best to type the information. AI-powered tools like Instafill.ai can convert non-fillable PDFs into fillable versions, allowing you to type directly onto the form for maximum clarity.
Confusing Street vs. Mailing Address
The form provides separate fields for a physical 'Street address' and a 'Mailing address.' People often enter the same information in both or put a P.O. Box in the street address field. This can cause official court notices to be sent to the wrong location and be returned as undeliverable. If you use a P.O. Box, it must be entered only in the 'Mailing address' field to ensure you receive all correspondence.

Frequently Asked Questions About CR-137

 

Is it really free for 7 days?
Yes. You pay $0 today. Cancel before Nov 1 and you are never charged. Keep it, and it is $19.99 a month for 5 fills of your CR-137.
Can I fill other forms too?
This plan is for your CR-137: your own AI agent fills it as often as 5 times a month. To fill other forms and upload your own, choose a Professional plan from your account.
How do I cancel?
From your account, in two clicks, any time. No email, no call.
How does the AI fill out CR-137?
You answer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. The AI reads what you give it and puts each answer into the right field of CR-137, on every page, in seconds. It checks the answers against the form's own rules, and you review and change anything before you download, print or sign.
What happens to my information?
It is encrypted in transit and at rest, and it is never used to train AI.
How complex is CR-137 to fill out?
CR-137 has a Form Complexity Index of 37 out of 100, in the basic tier: 37 fillable fields across 2 pages. Instafill.ai's AI fills it in under a minute, with every field there for you to review before you download.
What is the purpose of Form CR-137, Abandonment of Appeal?
This form is used to officially notify the court that you are voluntarily giving up or withdrawing your appeal in a California misdemeanor case.
Who should fill out this form?
The appellant, who is the person that originally filed the appeal in the misdemeanor case, or their attorney should complete and sign this form.
Can I use this form to abandon an appeal for a felony case?
No, Form CR-137 is specifically for abandoning an appeal in a misdemeanor case only. A different process or form would be required for a felony appeal.
What information do I need to provide on the form?
You will need your case details, including the trial court case name and number, your personal contact information, and your attorney's information if you have one. You should also include the appellate division case number if you know it.
What if I don't know my Appellate Division Case Number?
The form states you should fill in the appellate division case number 'if you know it.' If you do not have this number, you can leave it blank, but providing it helps the court process your abandonment more quickly.
Where do I submit the completed Form CR-137?
You must file the completed form with the appellate division clerk’s office. You can either take it in person or mail it, and it is recommended to keep a file-stamped copy for your records.
What happens after I file this form?
By signing and filing this form, you are formally abandoning your appeal. This action is generally final and will result in the dismissal of your appeal, ending the appellate process.
Do I need to read Form CR-131-INFO before filling this out?
Yes, the instructions strongly recommend reading the 'Information on Appeal Procedures for Misdemeanors' (form CR-131-INFO) to understand your rights and the consequences of abandoning your appeal.
Is filing this form mandatory to drop an appeal?
The form is labeled as 'Optional,' which means it is the court's recommended method to formalize the abandonment. Using this form ensures your intent is clearly documented with the court.
What is the difference between the 'Trial Court Case Number' and the 'Appellate Division Case Number'?
The Trial Court Case Number is the original case number from your misdemeanor trial. The Appellate Division Case Number is a new number assigned specifically to your appeal when it was filed.
Can I use an AI tool to help me fill out this form?
Yes, services like Instafill.ai use AI to help you accurately auto-fill form fields, which can save time and reduce errors.
How can I fill out Form CR-137 online?
You can use a service like Instafill.ai to fill out this form online. Simply upload the form, and the tool will help you complete the necessary fields digitally before you print it for submission.
The PDF version of this form I found is not fillable. What can I do?
If you have a non-fillable or 'flat' PDF, you can upload it to Instafill.ai. The service can convert it into an interactive, fillable form for you to complete online.
Encrypted in transit and at restNever used to train AIDelete your forms any time

Get your CR-137 filled out by AI

$0 today. Cancel before Nov 1 and you pay nothing.

Other forms like this one

California court forms: Judicial Council of California Form SC-105, Request for Court Order and Answer (Small Claims), Judicial Council of California Form SC-120, Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court (Small Claims), Judicial Council of California Form SER-001, Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers, Judicial Council of California Form SER-001, Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers, Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property California Probate Code Section 13100, Form POS-040, Proof of Service—Civil, Declaration of Facts of Death (California Superior Court), declaration-of-marriage-for-court-proceeding-california-family-law, ADOPT-200, Adoption Request, ADOPT-200, Stepparent Adoption Request, ADOPT-210, Adoption Agreement, ADOPT-310, Contact After Adoption Agreement, Judicial Council of California Form ADOPT-200, Adoption Request, Form ADR-107, Mediation Attendance Sheet, Form ADR-110, Order Appointing Referee, Form ADR-109, Stipulation or Motion for Order Appointing Referee, Form ADR-102, Request for Trial De Novo After Judicial Arbitration, Form ADR-108, Referee's Report (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 638, 639), Form ADR-106, Petition to Confirm, Correct, or Vacate Contractual Arbitration Award, Form ADR-104, Rejection of Award and Request for Trial After Attorney-Client Fee Arbitration

court appeal forms: Form N161, Appellant's Notice (All appeals except small claims track appeals and appeals to the Family Division of the High Court), Designation of Record on Appeal (Civil) (Maricopa County Justice Courts, Arizona) (Form APP 8150-702), Form N161, Appellant’s notice (All appeals except small claims track appeals and appeals to the Family Division of the High Court), Declaration for Court of Appeal Proceedings, Form MC 55, Claim of Appeal, Form MC 56, Bond on Appeal, Form MC 57, Certificate of Records Transmitted for Appeal and Notice to Parties, Form MC 60, Notice of Record Return from Circuit Court/Court of Appeals, Form MC 501, Reporter/Recorder Certificate of Ordering Transcript on Appeal, Form MC 503, Motion to Change Time for Filing Transcript on Appeal, Civil Appeal Case Information Statement, Form APP-014, Appellant's Proposed Statement on Appeal (Unlimited Civil Case), Form CR-125, Notice of Appeal—Commitment (Penal Code or Welfare and Institutions Code), Form CR-134, Notice Regarding Record on Appeal (Misdemeanor), Form CR-135, Proposed Statement on Appeal (Misdemeanor), Form CR-136, Order Concerning Appellant's Proposed Statement on Appeal (Misdemeanor), Form CR-142, Notice of Appeal and Record on Appeal (Infraction), Form CR-143, Proposed Statement on Appeal (Infraction), Form CR-105, Defendant's Financial Statement on Eligibility for Appointment of Counsel and Reimbursement and Record on Appeal at Public Expense, Form CR-133, Request for Court-Appointed Lawyer in Misdemeanor Appeal

7 days free, then $19.99/month · Cancel anytime