Patents for original grant lands sold under the provisions of this title must be issued to the purchaser or the purchaser's heirs or assigns, when payment is made in full for the lands and all the terms of the contract of purchase are performed. All such patents must be signed by the governor and attested by the secretary of state with the seal of the state and must be countersigned by the commissioner of university and school lands with the commissioner's seal affixed.
15-08-16.1. Patents to public lands issued to a person who died before date of patent - Effect. When patents for public lands have been or may be issued, in pursuance of any law of this state, to a person who has died before the date of such patent, the title of the land designated therein inures to and vests in the heirs, devisees, or assignees of such deceased patentees as if the patent had been issued to the deceased person during life.