If a person dies without a will (intestate)—and with no heirs (relatives or descendants)—ownership of the deceased person’s (decedent’s) property may be transferred to (or said to revert to) the state government (usually the state treasury) through the common law doctrine of escheat. In addition to enriching the state treasury (or the Lord in feudal England), escheat prevents property from remaining in limbo with no rightful owner.

A state’s common law is comprised of court opinions written by judges to resolve disputes and most states adopted the legal doctrine of escheat from the English common law (from England) soon after the founding of the United States and each state’s admission to the union. But in more recent years many state legislatures have defined the law of escheat in their state’s statutes—making it statutory law—which is also known as codifying the law, because it is then part of a code or statute.

The property subject to escheat laws is sometimes referred to or classified as unclaimed or abandoned property. Upon transfer to the government the unclaimed or abandoned property may be referred to as escheated property. And in some states there may be a period (a statute of limitations) in which heirs or rightful owners of the property may be able to reclaim escheated property.

Escheat laws vary from state to state and often depend on the nature of the asset involved (personal property, real property, bank account, brokerage account).

In North Dakota, if a person dies intestate (without a will) and has no identifiable heirs, the property of the deceased may escheat, or revert, to the state. This process is governed by North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) Chapter 47-04, which outlines the state's escheat laws. These laws are a codified form of the common law doctrine of escheat, which was adopted from English common law. The escheat process ensures that property does not remain ownerless and becomes the state's property, typically benefiting the state treasury. In North Dakota, there is a specified period during which potential heirs can come forward to claim the escheated property before it permanently becomes state property. The specific rules and procedures for escheat in North Dakota, including the statute of limitations for claims, can be found in the NDCC and are subject to change through legislative action. It is important for individuals to consult with an attorney for the most current and applicable advice regarding escheat laws in North Dakota.