Section 23-2-2.5-51 - Service stations; succession to ownership by family member of deceased franchisee(a) Any designated family member of a deceased service station franchisee may succeed to the ownership of the existing agreement if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The designated family member gives the service station franchisor written notice of the intention to succeed to the service station agreement within thirty (30) days of the service station franchisee's death.(2) The designated family member agrees to be bound by all terms and conditions of the existing owner's franchise agreement.(3) There is no good cause for the service station franchisor to refuse to honor the succession. For purposes of this subsection, the grounds for termination or nonrenewal of a franchise set out in the federal Petroleum Marketing Practices Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) constitute good cause. Notification of the refusal must be submitted to the designated family member in writing within sixty (60) days after the date of the service station franchisee's death, and must specify the reasons for the refusal. The form of the written notice required under this subsection shall be prescribed in the terms of the agreement.
(b) This section does not apply to agreements between franchisors and service station franchisees entered into or renewed before July 1, 1983.As added by P.L. 241-1983, SEC.2.