<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59760</law_id><section_number>19.2-159.1</section_number><catch_line>Interrogation by court; filing; change in circumstances; investigation by attorney for Commonwealth</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="10">Disability of Judge or Attorney for Commonwealth; Court- Appointed Counsel; Interpreters; Transcripts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Appointment of Attorney for Accused</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall thoroughly interrogate any person making the statement of indigency required in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Determination of indigency; guidelines; statement of indigence; appointment of counsel" href="/19.2-159/">19.2-159</a> and shall further advise such person of the <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> which might result from false swearing, as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Penalty for false swearing with regard to statement of indigence" href="/19.2-161/">19.2-161</a>. <a id="paragraph-218839" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-159.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The statement and <span class="dictionary">oath</span> of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shall be filed with the papers in the case, and shall follow and be in effect at all stages of the proceedings against him without further <span class="dictionary">oath</span>. In the event the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> undergoes a change of circumstances so that he is no longer <span class="dictionary">indigent</span>, the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shall thereupon obtain private <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> and shall forthwith advise the <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the change of circumstances. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall grant reasonable <span class="dictionary">continuance</span> to allow <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> to be obtained and to prepare for <span class="dictionary">trial</span>. When private <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> has been retained, appointed <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> shall forthwith be relieved of further responsibility and compensated for his services, pro rata, pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Compensation of court-appointed counsel" href="/19.2-163/">19.2-163</a>. <a id="paragraph-218840" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-159.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon the request of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, it shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in which such statement and <span class="dictionary">oath</span> was made to make an investigation as to the indigency of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, or of any other person making such statement. The attorney for the Commonwealth is authorized to delegate the responsibility for such investigation to any subordinate in his office, or to any agency, state or local, which possesses the facilities to quickly make such investigation. Such investigation shall be reduced to writing and forwarded to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the statement and <span class="dictionary">oath</span> was made within fourteen days after such request by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> is made. Such report shall be placed with the papers in the case. <a id="paragraph-218841" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-159.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-241.3:1; 1975, c. 580; 1977, c. 6; 1981, c. 289; 1984, c. 709.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
