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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>346836</law_id><section_number>13.1-694</section_number><catch_line>Duties of officers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="44" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="12" identifier="9">Virginia Stock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="11" identifier="9">Directors and Officers</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Each officer has the authority and shall perform the duties set forth in the bylaws or, to the extent consistent with the bylaws, the duties prescribed by the board of directors or by direction of an officer authorized by the board of directors to prescribe the duties of other officers. <a id="paragraph-1293621" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-694/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In discharging his duties, an officer who does not have knowledge that makes reliance unwarranted is entitled to rely on: <a id="paragraph-1293622" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-694/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The performance of properly delegated responsibilities by one or more employees of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> whom the officer believes in good faith to be reliable and competent in performing the responsibilities delegated; or <a id="paragraph-1293623" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-694/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Information, <span class="dictionary">opinions</span>, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, prepared or presented by one or more employees of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> whom the officer believes in good faith to be reliable and competent in the matters presented or by legal <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, public accountants, or other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> retained by the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> as to matters involving skills or expertise the officer believes in good faith are matters (i) within the particular <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s professional or expert competence or (ii) as to which the particular <span class="dictionary">person</span> merits confidence. <a id="paragraph-1293624" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-694/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 13.1-45; 1956, c. 428; 1972, c. 606; 1975, c. 500; 1982, c. 372; 1985, c. 522; 2019, c. 734.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
