An attempt to contract for an illegal purpose—to commit a murder or other crime or to facilitate an illegal objective (a promissory note for the purchase of illegal drugs)—is unenforceable and does not create a contract. A purported contract that is found to be for an illegal purpose is void and treated as if it never existed.
In North Dakota, as in all states, a contract must have a lawful object to be enforceable. If a contract is formed with the intent to commit a crime, such as murder, or to facilitate an illegal objective, such as the purchase of illegal drugs, it is considered void ab initio, meaning it is treated as if it never existed. This principle is rooted in the public policy that the law should not enforce agreements that are contrary to law or morality. Therefore, any agreement made for an illegal purpose does not constitute a valid contract under North Dakota law and the courts will not enforce it. This is consistent with general contract law principles that require a contract to have a lawful purpose to be valid.