§ 35-03-14 — Expiration of real estate mortgages

1. Unless extended or modified as specified in sections 35-03-15 and 35-03-15.1, the lien
created by a mortgage of North Dakota real estate and all notice from the record of the
lien expires as to all persons and for all purposes as follows:
a. If the final maturity date is ascertainable from the record of the mortgage, the lien
of the mortgage expires ten years after the final maturity date.
b. If the final maturity date of the mortgage is not ascertainable from the record, the
lien of the mortgage expires ten years after the date the mortgage is filed for
record in the office of the recorder.
2. Expiration of a mortgage lien under this section is equivalent for all purposes to proper
discharge of the mortgage of record, and execution or recordation of a discharge
instrument is not necessary to terminate a mortgage lien that has expired. Satisfaction
of mortgage in the common form may be recorded at any time.
3. Expiration of a mortgage lien as provided in this section occurs notwithstanding that
the right to foreclose the mortgage has not been or might not be barred by the defense
of limitations, whether tolled by nonresidence, disability, death, part payment,
acknowledgment, extension, new promise, or waiver, and occurs notwithstanding any
provisions of the Federal Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act.