According to the 2025 Ledgers Franchise Disclosure Document, the default location for claims or legal disputes (except those subject to arbitration) will be in the state and federal court nearest to Ledgers' headquarters, which is currently located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This applies to any claims that relate to or arise out of the Franchise Agreement or any dealings between Ledgers and the franchisee.

This means that if a Ledgers franchisee has a dispute with the company that ends up in court, unless arbitration is required, they will likely need to travel to Virginia Beach, Virginia, regardless of where their franchise is located. This could involve significant travel expenses and the inconvenience of dealing with a court system in a different state.

It is important to note that this clause does not apply to claims governed by federal law, and it also specifies that laws regulating the sale of franchises or the relationship between franchisor and franchisee will not apply unless the jurisdictional requirements of such laws are met independently of this paragraph. This may limit the applicability of certain state-specific franchise laws in disputes. Prospective franchisees should consider the implications of this venue and jurisdiction clause carefully, as it could add considerable cost and complexity to resolving any legal disputes with Ledgers.