TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 4: LAND RESOURCES
§ 4341. Definitions. As used in this article: (a) “Certificate of compliance” means a certificate executed pursuant to 2 CMC § 4308. (b) “Certificate of title” means a certificate of title issued pursuant to 2 CMC § 4251. (c) “Deed of conveyance” means a deed executed pursuant to 2 CMC § 4308. (d) “Grantee spouse” means that spouse named as grantee of marital homestead property in the deed of conveyance or certificate of title. (e) “Homestead permit” means a permit issued pursuant to 2 CMC § 4306. (f) “Land Commission” means the Commonwealth Land Commission. (g) “Marital homestead property” means that real property for which a deed of conveyance or certificate of title has been issued, naming as the grantee or owner one spouse of a marriage, if the marriage occurred at any time prior to the expiration of the required homestead term. (h) “Marriage” and “married” means a marriage recognized under applicable law. (i) “Required homestead term” means that period of time, as set forth in 2 CMC § 4308, or other applicable law, which is the number of years which a homesteader is required to have complied with homestead requirements prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance. (j) “Surviving spouse” means that spouse who survives a grantee spouse and who was married to the grantee spouse prior to the expiration of the required homestead term and who remain married to the grantee spouse until the time of death of the grantee spouse. Source: PL 3-74, § 2, modified. Commission Comment: PL 3-74, the “Marital Homestead Title Act of 1983,” took effect September 7, 1983. With respect to the reference to the “Land Commission” in this section, see Executive Order 94-3, § 306 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001; see also the comment to 2 CMC § 4212. Regarding subsection (f), the definition of “Land Commission,” PL 15-2, which was enacted on February 22, 2006, abolished the Marianas Public Lands Authority and created a Department of Public Lands in its place. PL 15-2 contained short title, legislative findings and declaration of policy, repealer, global amendment, transition, severability, and savings clauses. See 1 CMC § 2801 for detailed information regarding PL 15-2.