2025 Brand Renewal Information
All North Dakota livestock brands will expire on January 1, 2026
North Dakota livestock brands expire on January 1, 2026, in accordance with North Dakota Century Code 4.1-73-10. When a brand expires, ownership interest of the brand is lost, and the brand may no longer be used. North Dakota Century Code 4.1-73-11
In North Dakota, ALL brands are renewed every five years. The brand renewal period for North Dakota begins on July 1, 2025, and ends on December 31, 2025, with brands going into an expired status January 1, 2026. The renewal process ensures the accuracy of the state's brand records, confirms that brands are still in use, as well as establish a permanent record of ownership on livestock.
The fee to renew a brand is $50 per species per location. After your brand is renewed, you will receive a brand letter, along with a new brand card, in the mail.
Additional brand cards are available for $5 each and can be included with your payment. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, or money order.
Renewal documents are received via mail service or in person at 4520 Ottawa Street. Bismarck, ND. Only original documents are accepted.
Renewal begins on July 1, 2025, however official renewal forms are sent via US Postal service the first week in August, to the address on file in the brand recording office. Please contact the brand recorder at (701) 223-2522 or email at renewalquestions@ndstockmen.org, if your address has changed or you need to renew prior to August.
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Important Brand Renewal Information:
Do Not Be Late! Renewals postmarked after December 31, 2025, are expired brands and will NOT be printed in the Brand book.
ALL current brand owners must sign the renewal form - there is no exception. Signatures must be original (no photocopies).
If there are name changes to the brand record, ALL current brand owners must sign Section 5 on the renewal form (Transfer of Ownership), and have signatures witnessed by a disinterested party. Signatures must be original (no photocopies)
In the event a brand owner has died, the brand is transferred to remove his or her name from the brand. Refer to the conjunction used to adjoin names on the current brand recording for additional instructions on how to remove a deceased person's name from the brand.
In a Decedent’s Name Alone: the personal representative of the estate must authorize the transfer of the brand on behalf of the deceased person.
• The personal representative of the estate will sign on behalf of the decedent.
• A copy of the letter of testamentary must accompany the Brand Bill of Sale and Application for Brand Recording.
• If no probate occurred, an affidavit for collection of personal property may be submitted.
"And" Tenants in Common: all owners on the brand will need to sign a bill of sale, market clearance, etc. It will also mean that, in the event that a brand owner dies, his or her portion of the brand will then be assumed by his or her estate.
• The personal representative of the estate will sign on behalf of the decedent.
• A copy of the letter of testamentary must accompany the Brand Bill of Sale and Application for Brand Recording.
• If no probate occurred, an affidavit for collection of personal property may be submitted.
“And/Or”: Joint Tenancy and Tenants in Common: any owner on the brand can sign a bill of sale, market clearance, etc. It will also mean that, in the event that a brand owner dies, his or her portion of the brand will then be assumed by his or her estate.
• The personal representative of the estate will sign on behalf of the decedent.
• A copy of the letter of testamentary must accompany the Brand Bill of Sale and Application for Brand Recording.
• If no probate occurred, an affidavit for collection of personal property may be submitted.
“Or” = Joint Tenancy: any owner on the brand can sign a bill of sale, market clearance, etc. It will also mean that, in the event that a brand owner dies, his or her portion of the brand will then be assumed by the remaining brand owners.
• A Request for Removal of Decedent from Brand Record must be signed by the party requesting the deceased person’s name be taken off the brand. This form must be notarized.
• A copy of the death certificate or death record must accompany the Request for Removal.
Please print off the appropriate form below and submit with the brand renewal form. Please call the brand office with any questions at (701) 223-2522.
Request for Removal of Decedent