§ 41-03-35 — (3-309) Enforcement of lost, destroyed, or stolen instrument

1. A person not in possession of an instrument is entitled to enforce the instrument if that
person was in rightful possession of the instrument and entitled to enforce it when loss
of possession occurred; the loss of possession was not the result of a transfer by that
person or a lawful seizure; and that person cannot reasonably obtain possession of
the instrument because the instrument was destroyed, its whereabouts cannot be
determined, or it is in the wrongful possession of an unknown person or a person that
cannot be found or is not amenable to service of process.
2. A person seeking enforcement of an instrument pursuant to subsection 1 must prove
the terms of the instrument and the person's right to enforce the instrument. If that
proof is made, section 41-03-34 applies to the case as though the person seeking
enforcement had produced the instrument. The court may not enter judgment in favor
of the person seeking enforcement unless it finds that the person required to pay the
instrument is adequately protected against loss that might occur by reason of a claim
by another person to enforce the instrument. Adequate protection may be provided by
any reasonable means.