N.D. Cent. Code § 28-20-36
A partial payment made on a judgment must be applied first to postjudgment costs. If the payment exceeds the costs, the excess amount must be applied toward satisfying the interest due. If the payment exceeds the costs and interest, the excess amount must be applied toward discharging the judgment amount, and the subsequent interest is to be computed on the balance of the judgment amount remaining due. If the payment falls short of satisfying the costs and interest, interest continues to accrue on the former judgment amount until a payment is made that exceeds the sum of the costs and interest due at the time of payment, and then the excess amount must be applied toward discharging the judgment amount, and interest accrues thereafter on the balance of the judgment amount remaining due. This section does not apply to the collection of any debt owed to the state or a political subdivision.
N.D.C.C. § 28-20-36