An unrecorded conveyance of real estate is void as against any subsequent purchaser in good faith, and for a valuable consideration, of the same real estate or any part of the same real estate, regardless of whether recorded in the form of a warranty deed or deed of quitclaim and release or the form in common use first is recorded or as against an attachment on the property or judgment, against the owner of record, before the recording of the conveyance. The fact that the first recorded conveyance is a quitclaim deed does not affect the question of good faith of the subsequent purchaser, or be of itself notice of any unrecorded conveyance of the same real estate or any part of the same real estate. This section is notice to all who claim under unrecorded instruments that prior recording of later instruments may nullify their title to or lien on affected real property. An action affecting any title to or lien on real property may not be commenced or defense or counterclaim asserted on the ground that a recorded instrument was not entitled to be recorded. The record of all instruments whether or not entitled to be recorded is deemed valid and sufficient as the legal record of the instruments.

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Terms Used In North Dakota Code 47-19-41

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.