1. The signature of the complaint cannot be signed by relatives. In criminal cases, the appeal must be signed by the defendant himself, and the family members cannot sign it on his behalf. If the defendant refuses to accept the judgment of first instance of the local people's courts at all levels, he may appeal to the people's court at the next higher level. The appeal is a document submitted by the appellant to the people's court and must be signed by himself.
2. According to Article 227 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).
Defendants, private prosecutors and their legal representatives have the right to appeal to the people's court at the next higher level in writing or orally if they refuse to accept the judgment or ruling of first instance of local people's courts at all levels. Defenders and close relatives of the defendant may appeal with the consent of the defendant. The parties to an incidental civil action and their legal representatives may appeal to the part of the incidental civil action in the judgment or ruling of first instance of the local people's courts at all levels. The defendant shall not be deprived of the right to appeal under any pretext.
Second, what does the appeal include?
The appeal includes the following:
1. Criminal complaint: a written complaint in which a litigant or his legal representative refuses to accept the judgment or ruling of the people's court in a case of first instance and requests the people's court at the next higher level to cancel or change the ruling of the original trial or retrial in accordance with legal procedures during the legal complaint period;
2. Civil appeal: a written complaint filed by a civil litigant who refuses to accept the judgment or ruling of the people's court of first instance, sets procedures and time limits according to law, appeals to the people's court at a higher level, and requests to cancel, change the judgment or ruling of the original trial, or retrial;
3. Administrative appeal: A party to an administrative lawsuit refuses to accept the ruling or judgment made by the court of first instance on an administrative case, and appeals to the court at the next higher level within the statutory time limit, demanding that the legal documents of the original judgment be revoked or changed.