N.D. Cent. Code § 50-01-21 (2025)
50-01-21. County and department have preferred claim against estate of recipient of county general assistance or general assistance.
Funds used for subsistence, medical, hospital, or burial expenses of a recipient of county general assistance or general assistance may not be considered as gifts, and the county and department have a preferred claim against the estate of any person who has received county general assistance or general assistance for funds expended for that person and that person's legal dependents. The statute of limitations does not run on this type of claim.