N.D. Cent. Code § 35-03-08: Papers accompanying mortgage or grant must be recorded

Every grant of real property or of any estate therein which appears by any other writing to be intended as a mortgage within the meaning of chapter 35-01 must be recorded as a mortgage. If the grant and other writing explanatory of its true character are not recorded together at the same time and place, the grantee can derive no benefit from such record.