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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62432</law_id><section_number>53.1-40.8</section_number><catch_line>Fees and expenses</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="53.1">Prisons and Other Methods of Correction</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">State Correctional Facilities</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2.1">Medical and Mental Health Care; Involuntary Admission and Treatment</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any special justice, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-100/">37.2-100</a>, and any district <span class="dictionary">court</span> substitute <span class="dictionary">judge</span> who presides over <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> pursuant to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent" href="/53.1-40.1/">53.1-40.1</a> and <a class="law" title="Involuntary admission of prisoners with mental illness" href="/53.1-40.2/">53.1-40.2</a> shall receive a fee as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Fees and expenses" href="/37.2-804/">37.2-804</a> for each commitment <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Involuntary admission of prisoners with mental illness" href="/53.1-40.2/">53.1-40.2</a> and each proceeding under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent" href="/53.1-40.1/">53.1-40.1</a> ruling on competency or treatment and his necessary mileage. However, if the commitment <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Involuntary admission of prisoners with mental illness" href="/53.1-40.2/">53.1-40.2</a> and the proceeding under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent" href="/53.1-40.1/">53.1-40.1</a> are combined for <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or are heard on the same day, only one fee shall be allowed. <a id="paragraph-227674" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.8/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Every physician or clinical psychologist who is not regularly employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia who is required to serve as a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> for the Commonwealth in any proceeding under this article shall receive a fee as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Fees and expenses" href="/37.2-804/">37.2-804</a> for each commitment <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> in which he serves. Other witnesses regularly summoned before a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> under the provisions of this article shall receive such compensation for their attendance and mileage as is allowed witnesses summoned to testify before grand juries. <a id="paragraph-227675" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.8/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Every attorney appointed under this article shall receive a fee as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Fees and expenses" href="/37.2-804/">37.2-804</a> for each commitment <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Involuntary admission of prisoners with mental illness" href="/53.1-40.2/">53.1-40.2</a> and each proceeding under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent" href="/53.1-40.1/">53.1-40.1</a> for which he is appointed. However, if the commitment <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Involuntary admission of prisoners with mental illness" href="/53.1-40.2/">53.1-40.2</a> and the proceeding under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent" href="/53.1-40.1/">53.1-40.1</a> are combined for <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or are heard on the same day, only one fee shall be allowed. <a id="paragraph-227676" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.8/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except as hereinafter provided, all expenses incurred, including the fees, attendance, and mileage aforesaid, shall be paid by the Commonwealth. Any such fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with an examination or <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> for an admission pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Involuntary admission of prisoners with mental illness" href="/53.1-40.2/">53.1-40.2</a> or in connection with a proceeding under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent" href="/53.1-40.1/">53.1-40.1</a>, when paid by the Commonwealth, shall be recoverable by the Commonwealth from the prisoner who is the subject of the examination, <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, or proceeding or from his estate. Such collection or recovery may be undertaken by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. All such fees, costs, and expenses, if collected or recovered by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, shall be refunded to the Commonwealth. No such fees or costs shall be recovered, however, from the prisoner or his estate when no good cause for his admission exists or when the recovery would create an undue financial hardship. <a id="paragraph-227677" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.8/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1988, c. 873; 1990, c. 221; 2005, c. 716.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
