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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>346839</law_id><section_number>13.1-697</section_number><catch_line>Authority to indemnify</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-700.1</reference><reference>13.1-701</reference><reference>13.1-704</reference></referred_to_by><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="12" identifier="10">Indemnification</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as provided in subsection D, a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> may indemnify an <span class="dictionary">individual</span> who is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> because the <span class="dictionary">individual</span> is or was a <span class="dictionary">director</span> against <span class="dictionary">liability</span> incurred in the <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> if: <a id="paragraph-1293637" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">director</span>:
				a. Conducted himself in good faith; and<br/><br/>				b. Believed: <a id="paragraph-1293638" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A11" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> In the case of conduct in his <span class="dictionary">official capacity</span> with the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, that his conduct was in its best <span class="dictionary">interests</span>; and <a id="paragraph-1293639" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#A11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> In all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to its best <span class="dictionary">interests</span>; and
					c. In the case of any criminal <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span>, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; or <a id="paragraph-1293640" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#A12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">director</span> engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory as authorized by subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Application of article" href="/13.1-704/">13.1-704</a>. <a id="paragraph-1293641" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">director</span>&#x2019;s conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose he believed to be in the <span class="dictionary">interests</span> of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subdivision A 1 b (2). <a id="paragraph-1293642" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The termination of a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> by <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, <span class="dictionary">order</span>, <span class="dictionary">settlement</span>, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, or upon a <span class="dictionary">plea</span> of <span class="dictionary">nolo contendere</span> or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative that the <span class="dictionary">director</span> did not meet the relevant standard of conduct described in this section. <a id="paragraph-1293643" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Unless ordered by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> under subsection C of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Court orders for advance, reimbursement, or indemnification" href="/13.1-700.1/">13.1-700.1</a> or broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory as authorized by subsection C of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Application of article" href="/13.1-704/">13.1-704</a>, a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> may not indemnify a <span class="dictionary">director</span> under this section: <a id="paragraph-1293644" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> In connection with a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> by or in the right of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> except for <span class="dictionary">expenses</span> incurred in connection with the <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> if it is determined that the <span class="dictionary">director</span> has met the relevant standard under subsection A; or <a id="paragraph-1293645" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> In connection with any other <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> charging improper personal benefit to the <span class="dictionary">director</span>, whether or not involving action in his <span class="dictionary">official capacity</span>, in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him. <a id="paragraph-1293646" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-697/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 13.1-3.1; 1968, c. 570; 1975, c. 500; 1979, c. 99; 1985, c. 522; 2005, c. 765; 2019, c. 734.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Alfred W. Gross, Commissioner of Insurance, State .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>98-2000</case_number><citation>217 F.3d 208</citation><date>2000-06-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/769247/alfred-w-gross-commissioner-of-insurance-state-corporation-commission/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 217 F.3d 208 (4th Cir. 2000) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Gross v. Weingarten</name><case_number>98-2000, 98-2393, 98-2405</case_number><citation>217 F.3d 208</citation><date>2000-06-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2967207/gross-v-weingarten/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded by published opinion. Judge MICHAEL wrote the .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
