2025 Brand Renewal
All North Dakota livestock brands will expire on Jan. 1, 2026
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North Dakota livestock brands expire on Jan. 1, 2026, in accordance with North Dakota Century Code 4.1-73-10. If a brand is allowed to expire, ownership interest of the brand will be lost and the brand may no longer be used.
ALL livestock brands need to be renewed every five years. The next renewal period for North Dakota brands will begin on July 1, 2025 and end on December 31st, 2025, with brands going into a "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 $50.00 per species and per location. After your brand is recorded, you will receive a brand letter and new brand card in the mail. Extra brand cards are an additional $5.00 and can be included with your payment.
Renewal will begin on July 1, 2025, however official renewal forms will be sent via mail in August, 2025 to the most recent address on file in the Brand Recording Office.
Please contact the Brand Recording Office 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:
Don't Be Late! Renewals that are postmarked after Dec. 31, 2025 are expired brands and will NOT be printed in the Brand book. They will instead be printed in the yearly supplement after being recorded.
ALL current owners on the brand must sign the renewal form - there is no exception to this. Signatures must be original (no photo copies).
If there are name changes to the brand record, ALL current owners must sign Section 5 on the renewal form (Transfer of Ownership), and signatures must be witnessed by a disinterested party.
Signatures must be original (no photo copies)
In the event a brand owner has died, the brand must be 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. Feel free to call with any questions at 701-223-2522
Request for Removal of Decedent
Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property
Brand Bill of Sale (additional space)