What does motion for leave to appeal denied mean?

I found court records indicating that someone lost custody of their child due to being financially unstable and deemed an unfit mother. Then a year later apparently she appealed it and they said "motion for leave to appeal denied". Does that mean she lost the appeal?What does motion for leave to appeal denied mean?It means that she made a motion to file an appeal, and the motion was denied. She never really filed an appeal.



Child custody is not a criminal proceeding, but a civil one, so procedures are different and in a way with fewer rights. An appeal or right to appeal is not automatic.