Any party who is unhappy with the decision of a court has recourse to appeal the decision to a higher court by filing a notice of appeal. As with other areas of the law, the rules of appellate procedure are complicated and the failure to follow them precisely will result in the loss of substantial rights. Appeals from decisions of municipal courts, magistrate courts and probate courts are generally made to the state or superior courts and appeals of decisions from the state or superior courts are to the Georgia Court of Appeals or the Georgia Supreme Court. Appeals of decisions of the Georgia Court of Appeals may be made to the Georgia Supreme Court by filing a petition for certiorari and there are separate rules governing the appeals of decisions by the federal courts. Only the final decisions of a court of competent jurisdiction may be appealed as a matter or right, and there are other rules that govern appeals of non-final decisions.