Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts

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Administrative Office of the Courts
511 Union Street, Suite 600
Nashville, TN 37219

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Indigent Defense

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ATTENTION INDIGENT DEFENSE COUNSEL: During this time we want to assure you the Administrative Office of the Courts staff is working as usual - whether remotely or at the AOC office- to ensure processing/payment will continue. This is an excellent time to
sign up for direct deposit so payments can be deposited directly into your account. Direct deposit will enable you to receive your funds faster and will eliminate delays experienced in paper check processing and mail delivery. You will receive your statements by email with a notification of payment from ACAP.

The indigent defense program provides legal services for persons who are constitutionally entitled to legal counsel but who are found to be indigent by the court and unable to pay for legal services. This includes criminal defendants in jeopardy of incarceration and children and parents in dependency and neglect and termination of parental rights cases. The indigent defense program is funded with general fund state tax dollars.

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) administers the indigent defense fund, which compensates attorneys, interpreters, experts and investigators for providing services to indigent defendants. Supreme Court Rule 13 provides additional information about how attorneys and other experts are compensated for indigent defense work.

Pursuant to an order filed February 6, 2013, that effective July 1, 2013, the AOC will no longer accept paper claims from attorneys and interpreters seeking reimbursement from the Indigent Defense Fund. Claims must be submitted on-line via the ACAP system.