A person is referred to as indigent when they are impoverished, or unable to afford the basic necessities of life. A defendant who is indigent has a constitutional right to court-appointed representation, according to a 1963 Supreme Court decision, Gideon v. Wainwright. Further, in some divorce and parental rights cases, an indigent person is exempted from paying court fees as well as some other fees.
[Last updated in February of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]