{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-384.1_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-384.1_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-384.1_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-384.1_1.html"}],"law_id":377230,"edition_id":2,"section_id":377230,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.1:1","catch_line":"Interpreters for non-English-speaking persons in civil cases","history":"1996, c. 559; 2003, c. 1011.","full_text":"A\n\nIn any trial, hearing or other proceeding before a judge in a civil case in which a non-English-speaking person is a party or witness, an interpreter for the non-English-speaking person may be appointed by the court. A qualified English-speaking person fluent in the language of the non-English-speaking person may be appointed by the judge of the court in which the case is to be heard unless the non-English-speaking person shall obtain a qualified interpreter of his own choosing who is approved by the court as being competent.\n\nB\n\nTo the extent of available appropriations, the compensation of such interpreter shall be fixed by the court in accordance with guidelines set by the Judicial Council of Virginia and shall be paid from the general fund of the state treasury as part of the expense of trial. The amount allowed by the court to the interpreter may, in the discretion of the court, be assessed against either party as a part of the cost of the case and, if collected, the same shall be paid to the Commonwealth.\n\nC\n\nWhenever a person communicates through an interpreter to any person under such circumstances that the communications would be privileged, and such persons could not be compelled to testify as to the communications, this privilege shall also apply to the interpreter. The provisions of this section shall apply in circuit courts and district courts.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1407891,"text":"In any trial, hearing or other proceeding before a judge in a civil case in which a non-English-speaking person is a party or witness, an interpreter for the non-English-speaking person may be appointed by the court. A qualified English-speaking person fluent in the language of the non-English-speaking person may be appointed by the judge of the court in which the case is to be heard unless the non-English-speaking person shall obtain a qualified interpreter of his own choosing who is approved by the court as being competent.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1407892,"text":"To the extent of available appropriations, the compensation of such interpreter shall be fixed by the court in accordance with guidelines set by the Judicial Council of Virginia and shall be paid from the general fund of the state treasury as part of the expense of trial. The amount allowed by the court to the interpreter may, in the discretion of the court, be assessed against either party as a part of the cost of the case and, if collected, the same shall be paid to the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1407893,"text":"Whenever a person communicates through an interpreter to any person under such circumstances that the communications would be privileged, and such persons could not be compelled to testify as to the communications, this privilege shall also apply to the interpreter. The provisions of this section shall apply in circuit courts and district courts.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53617,"edition_id":2,"name":"Certain Incidents of Trial","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":25,"parent_id":53558,"metadata":{"child_laws":21,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:19","permalink":{"id":1504273,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53617,"identifier":"13","token":"8.01\/13","url":"\/8.01\/13\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53558,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":12,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1095,"child_structures":142},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:09","permalink":{"id":1504031,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53558,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":377211,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-374","catch_line":"Procedure when original papers in cause are lost","url":"\/8.01-374\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-374","metadata":false},{"id":377210,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-374.1","catch_line":"Consolidation or bifurcation of issues or claims in certain cases; appeal","url":"\/8.01-374.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-374.1","metadata":false},{"id":377212,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-375","catch_line":"Exclusion of witnesses in civil cases (Subsection (a) of Supreme Court Rule 2:615 derived in part from this section and subsection (b) of Supreme Court Rule 2:615 derived from this section)","url":"\/8.01-375\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-375","metadata":false},{"id":377213,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-376","catch_line":"Views by juries","url":"\/8.01-376\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-376","metadata":false},{"id":377215,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-377","catch_line":"Remedy when variance appears between evidence and allegations","url":"\/8.01-377\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-377","metadata":false},{"id":377214,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-377.1","catch_line":"Summary judgment","url":"\/8.01-377.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-377.1","metadata":false},{"id":377216,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-378","catch_line":"Trial judge not to direct verdicts","url":"\/8.01-378\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-378","metadata":false},{"id":377221,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379","catch_line":"Argument before jury","url":"\/8.01-379\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379","metadata":false},{"id":377217,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.1","catch_line":"Informing jury of amounts sued for","url":"\/8.01-379.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.1","metadata":false},{"id":377218,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.2","catch_line":"Jury instructions","url":"\/8.01-379.2\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.2","metadata":false},{"id":377219,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.2:1","catch_line":"Spoliation of evidence","url":"\/8.01-379.2_1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":377220,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.3","catch_line":"General verdict accompanied by answer to interrogatories","url":"\/8.01-379.3\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.3","metadata":false},{"id":377224,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-380","catch_line":"Dismissal of action by nonsuit; fees and costs","url":"\/8.01-380\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-380","metadata":false},{"id":377225,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-381","catch_line":"What jury may carry out","url":"\/8.01-381\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-381","metadata":false},{"id":377226,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-382","catch_line":"Verdict, judgment or decree to fix period at which interest begins; final order; judgment or decree for interest","url":"\/8.01-382\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-382","metadata":false},{"id":377228,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-383","catch_line":"Power to grant new trial; how often","url":"\/8.01-383\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-383","metadata":false},{"id":377227,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-383.1","catch_line":"Appeal when verdict reduced and accepted under protest; new trial for inadequate damages","url":"\/8.01-383.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-383.1","metadata":false},{"id":377232,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384","catch_line":"Formal exceptions to rulings or orders of court unnecessary; motion for new trial unnecessary in certain cases","url":"\/8.01-384\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384","metadata":false},{"id":377229,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.1","catch_line":"Interpreters for deaf or hard of hearing in civil proceedings","url":"\/8.01-384.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1","metadata":false},{"id":377230,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.1:1","catch_line":"Interpreters for non-English-speaking persons in civil cases","url":"\/8.01-384.1_1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":377231,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.2","catch_line":"Waiver of discovery time limitations by parties","url":"\/8.01-384.2\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":377229,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.1","catch_line":"Interpreters for deaf or hard of hearing in civil proceedings","url":"\/8.01-384.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":377231,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.2","catch_line":"Waiver of discovery time limitations by parties","url":"\/8.01-384.2\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-384.1:1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 559<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2003, chapter 1011<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1504351,"object_type":"law","relational_id":377230,"identifier":"8.01-384.1:1","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1_1","url":"\/8.01-384.1_1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-384.1_1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Interpreters for non-English-speaking persons in civil cases","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-384.1:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In any trial<\/span>, hearing<\/span> or other proceeding before a judge<\/span> in a civil case in which a non-English-speaking person<\/span> is a party<\/span> or witness<\/span>, an interpreter for the non-English-speaking person<\/span> may be appointed by the court<\/span>. A qualified English-speaking person<\/span> fluent in the language of the non-English-speaking person<\/span> may be appointed by the judge<\/span> of the court<\/span> in which the case is to be heard unless the non-English-speaking person<\/span> shall obtain a qualified interpreter of his own choosing who is approved by the court<\/span> as being competent. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> To the extent of available appropriations, the compensation of such interpreter shall be fixed by the court<\/span> in accordance with guidelines set by the Judicial Council of Virginia and shall be paid from the general fund of the state treasury as part of the expense of trial<\/span>. The amount allowed by the court<\/span> to the interpreter may, in the discretion of the court<\/span>, be assessed against either party<\/span> as a part of the cost of the case and, if collected, the same shall be paid to the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Whenever a person<\/span> communicates through an interpreter to any person<\/span> under such circumstances that the communications would be privileged, and such persons<\/span> could not be compelled to testify as to the communications, this privilege<\/span> shall also apply to the interpreter. The provisions of this section shall apply in circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> and district courts<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINTERPRETERS FOR NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING PERSONS IN CIVIL CASES (\u00a7 8.01-384.1:1)\n\nA. In any trial, hearing or other proceeding before a judge in a civil case in\nwhich a non-English-speaking person is a party or witness, an interpreter for\nthe non-English-speaking person may be appointed by the court. A qualified\nEnglish-speaking person fluent in the language of the non-English-speaking\nperson may be appointed by the judge of the court in which the case is to be\nheard unless the non-English-speaking person shall obtain a qualified\ninterpreter of his own choosing who is approved by the court as being competent.\n\nB. To the extent of available appropriations, the compensation of such\ninterpreter shall be fixed by the court in accordance with guidelines set by the\nJudicial Council of Virginia and shall be paid from the general fund of the\nstate treasury as part of the expense of trial. The amount allowed by the court\nto the interpreter may, in the discretion of the court, be assessed against\neither party as a part of the cost of the case and, if collected, the same shall\nbe paid to the Commonwealth.\n\nC. Whenever a person communicates through an interpreter to any person under\nsuch circumstances that the communications would be privileged, and such persons\ncould not be compelled to testify as to the communications, this privilege shall\nalso apply to the interpreter. The provisions of this section shall apply in\ncircuit courts and district courts.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, c. 559; 2003, c. 1011.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}