North Dakota Prejudgment Interest Rate
United States North Dakota’s prejudgment interest rate — when a court awards it.
Set by statute Fixed by statute
North Dakota prejudgment interest is 6% per year, as simple interest under N.D.C.C. § 32-03-04. Two distinct tracks. (1) MANDATORY prejudgment interest as of right under § 32-03-04 ONLY for damages that are "certain or capable of being made certain by calculation" and where the right…
When North Dakota prejudgment interest applies
Two distinct tracks. (1) MANDATORY prejudgment interest as of right under § 32-03-04 ONLY for damages that are "certain or capable of being made certain by calculation" and where the right to recover is vested on a "particular day" — i.e., liquidated / readily ascertainable claims (typically contract debts and sums calculable by fixed standards). Recovery of prejudgment interest is precluded on unliquidated damages that are not ascertainable by calculation.
When it starts accruing
Under § 32-03-04, interest accrues from the "particular day" the right to recover vested — i.e., the date the liquidated/ascertainable debt became due or the date of breach for contract claims.
Simple or compound
Simple. The 6% legal rate under § 47-14-05 is simple interest; North Dakota law generally prohibits compounding of interest (see § 47-14-09, interest may not be compounded), and prejudgment interest is computed as simple interest.
→ Compare with the North Dakota post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Prejudgment interest under N.D.C.C. § 32-03-04 — 6% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from North Dakota’s post-judgment rate; availability is limited by claim type (see the page). Verify against the statute text. Not legal advice.
Effective-date history
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 6% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Latest value retrieved July 10, 2026 (02:55 UTC) from the official source:
https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t32c03.pdf