N.D. Cent. Code § 11-03-10: Records to be transcribed

When a new county is organized, the board of county commissioners thereof shall cause to be transcribed, by copying or by photographing into the proper books, all the records, deeds, and other instruments relating to real estate, and all other records and instruments of every kind required by law to be kept on file or recorded in the respective county offices in the new county. All records transcribed by copying or by photographing shall have the same effect as original records. A person authorized by the board of county commissioners to transcribe the records shall have free access at all reasonable times to the original records for the purpose of transcribing them.