{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/13.1-565.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/13.1-565.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/13.1-565.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/13.1-565.html"}],"law_id":73406,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-565","catch_line":"Voidable franchises","history":"1972, c. 561; 1978, c. 670; 1979, c. 104; 1991, c. 475; 2009, c. 148.","full_text":"Any franchise may be declared void by the franchisee at his option by sending a written declaration of that fact and the reasons therefor to the franchisor by registered or certified mail if:\n\n1\n\nThe franchisor’s offer to sell a franchise was unlawful, as provided in § 13.1-560 or § 13.1-563, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 72 hours after discovery thereof but not more than 90 days after execution of the franchise;2\n\nThe franchisee was not afforded the opportunity to negotiate with the franchisor on all provisions within the franchise, except that such negotiations shall not result in the impairment of the uniform image and quality standards of the franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after execution of the franchise; or3\n\nThe franchisee was not furnished a copy of the franchise agreement and disclosure documents at least 72 hours prior to execution of the franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after execution of the franchise.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":264158,"text":"Any franchise may be declared void by the franchisee at his option by sending a written declaration of that fact and the reasons therefor to the franchisor by registered or certified mail if:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":264159,"text":"The franchisor’s offer to sell a franchise was unlawful, as provided in § 13.1-560 or § 13.1-563, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 72 hours after discovery thereof but not more than 90 days after execution of the franchise;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":264160,"text":"The franchisee was not afforded the opportunity to negotiate with the franchisor on all provisions within the franchise, except that such negotiations shall not result in the impairment of the uniform image and quality standards of the franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after execution of the franchise; or","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":264161,"text":"The franchisee was not furnished a copy of the franchise agreement and disclosure documents at least 72 hours prior to execution of the franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after execution of the franchise.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15323,"edition_id":1,"name":"Retail Franchising Act","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12744,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:58","permalink":{"id":150081,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15323,"identifier":"8","token":"13.1\/8","url":"\/13.1\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12744,"edition_id":1,"name":"Corporations","identifier":"13.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":147493,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12744,"identifier":"13.1","token":"13.1","url":"\/13.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73586,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-557","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/13.1-557\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-557","metadata":false},{"id":61843,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-558","catch_line":"Policy of the Commonwealth","url":"\/13.1-558\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-558","metadata":false},{"id":74631,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-559","catch_line":"Definitions; applicability of chapter","url":"\/13.1-559\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-559","metadata":false},{"id":82599,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-560","catch_line":"Registration required","url":"\/13.1-560\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-560","metadata":false},{"id":81742,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561","catch_line":"Procedure for registration; bond; renewal; fee","url":"\/13.1-561\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561","metadata":false},{"id":73116,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561.1","catch_line":"Fees to cover expense of regulation","url":"\/13.1-561.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561.1","metadata":false},{"id":73535,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-562","catch_line":"Revocation of or refusal to renew registration","url":"\/13.1-562\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-562","metadata":false},{"id":87113,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-563","catch_line":"Unlawful offers","url":"\/13.1-563\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-563","metadata":false},{"id":59406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-564","catch_line":"Unlawful cancellation of franchise; undue influence","url":"\/13.1-564\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-564","metadata":false},{"id":73406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-565","catch_line":"Voidable franchises","url":"\/13.1-565\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-565","metadata":false},{"id":86515,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-566","catch_line":"Service of process on nonresident franchisor","url":"\/13.1-566\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-566","metadata":false},{"id":83647,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-567","catch_line":"Investigations; confidentiality of information and documents","url":"\/13.1-567\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-567","metadata":false},{"id":58344,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-568","catch_line":"Injunctions","url":"\/13.1-568\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-568","metadata":false},{"id":79184,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-569","catch_line":"Crimes","url":"\/13.1-569\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-569","metadata":false},{"id":61728,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-569.1","catch_line":"Commission may transmit record or complaint to locality where violation occurred","url":"\/13.1-569.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-569.1","metadata":false},{"id":73285,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-570","catch_line":"Violations punishable by Commission","url":"\/13.1-570\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-570","metadata":false},{"id":76507,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-571","catch_line":"Civil remedies","url":"\/13.1-571\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-571","metadata":false},{"id":63100,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-572","catch_line":"Rules and forms","url":"\/13.1-572\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-572","metadata":false},{"id":72781,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-573","catch_line":"Certain records of Commission available to public; admissibility of copies; destruction","url":"\/13.1-573\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-573","metadata":false},{"id":70040,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-574","catch_line":"Effective date","url":"\/13.1-574\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-574","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-564","catch_line":"Unlawful cancellation of franchise; undue influence","url":"\/13.1-564\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-564","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86515,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-566","catch_line":"Service of process on nonresident franchisor","url":"\/13.1-566\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-566","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/13.1-565\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1972. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 561 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. Unfortunately, the 1972 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 670; in 1979, chapter 104; in 1991, chapter 475; in 2009, chapter 148<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76507,"section_number":"13.1-571","catch_line":"Civil remedies","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-571\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82599,"section_number":"13.1-560","catch_line":"Registration required","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-560\/"},{"id":87113,"section_number":"13.1-563","catch_line":"Unlawful offers","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-563\/"}],"permalink":{"id":150119,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73406,"identifier":"13.1-565","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-565","url":"\/13.1-565\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/13.1-565\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-565","dublin_core":{"Title":"Voidable franchises","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 13.1-565","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any franchise may be declared void by the franchisee at his option by sending a written declaration of that fact<\/span> and the reasons therefor to the franchisor by registered or certified mail if:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The franchisor’s offer to sell a franchise was unlawful, as provided in § 13.1-560<\/a> or § 13.1-563<\/a>, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 72 hours after discovery<\/span> thereof but not more than 90 days after execution of the franchise; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The franchisee was not afforded the opportunity to negotiate with the franchisor on all provisions within the franchise, except that such negotiations shall not result in the impairment of the uniform image and quality standards of the franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after execution of the franchise; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The franchisee was not furnished a copy of the franchise agreement and disclosure documents at least 72 hours prior to execution of the franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after execution of the franchise. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVOIDABLE FRANCHISES (\u00a7 13.1-565)\n\nAny franchise may be declared void by the franchisee at his option by sending a\nwritten declaration of that fact and the reasons therefor to the franchisor by\nregistered or certified mail if:\n\n1. The franchisor’s offer to sell a franchise was unlawful, as provided in\n§ 13.1-560 or § 13.1-563, provided that the franchisee send such\nwritten declaration within 72 hours after discovery thereof but not more than 90\ndays after execution of the franchise;\n\n2. The franchisee was not afforded the opportunity to negotiate with the\nfranchisor on all provisions within the franchise, except that such negotiations\nshall not result in the impairment of the uniform image and quality standards of\nthe franchise, provided that the franchisee send such written declaration within\n30 days after execution of the franchise; or\n\n3. The franchisee was not furnished a copy of the franchise agreement and\ndisclosure documents at least 72 hours prior to execution of the franchise,\nprovided that the franchisee send such written declaration within 30 days after\nexecution of the franchise.\n\nHISTORY: 1972, c. 561; 1978, c. 670; 1979, c. 104; 1991, c. 475; 2009, c. 148.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}