HB 1224 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to amend and reenact section 30.1-23-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the administration of small estates.

HB 1224 simplifies the process for inheriting small estates in North Dakota by allowing claimants to collect assets using a sworn affidavit instead of court-appointed probate. It directly affects individuals inheriting property from a deceased person when the total estate value (minus debts) is under $510,000. The bill requires a 30-day wait after death, an affidavit confirming the estate size and no pending court proceedings, and allows debtors or transfer agents to release assets directly to the claimant. This eliminates the need for formal probate court involvement for qualifying small estates.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Jan 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Mar 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED → Enrollment · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the formatting and certification details of HB 1224, which amends North Dakota Century Code section 30.1-23-01 regarding small estate administration. The substantive legal content remains unchanged, but the document now includes proper legislative assembly session dates, representative sponsor lists, and official certification signatures required for enrollment.

TECHNICAL

Added formal session header identifying the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota with regular session dates of January 7, 2025.

Added sponsor lists for both Representatives and Senators who introduced the bill.

Added official certification language confirming the bill originated in the House of Representatives and includes vote counts from both chambers.

Added signature lines for Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, and Governor for official enrollment.

Removed old bill number 25.0889.01000 and replaced with proper legislative formatting.

Reformatted bill text to align with standard enrollment requirements while preserving the original legal content about small estate affidavit procedures.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 13, 2025 · House Jan 31, 2025

How they voted

47–0

Passed

Total votes 47

Mar 13, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican42

42 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/20

legislature

Mar 21, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 03/19

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 7 0 0

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:00

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 88 nays 0

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 14 0 0

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 09:00

lower

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors