North Dakota Century Code Title 18. Fires § 18-11-17. Pensions to surviving spouses and children of deceased members

1. If the deceased leaves only a surviving spouse, a pension in the sum of forty percent of a first-class firefighter's monthly salary on January first during the year the pension is paid to the surviving spouse, during such spouse's natural life or until such spouse remarries.

2. If the deceased leaves both a surviving spouse and children, a monthly pension to the surviving spouse in the sum of forty percent of a first-class firefighter's monthly salary on January first during the year the pension is paid, for the rest of the surviving spouse's natural life or until such spouse remarries, and to the parent or guardian of any children under the age of eighteen years of age there must be paid monthly twenty percent of a first-class firefighter's monthly salary to be divided equally among such children.

3. If the deceased leaves only children, a monthly pension must be paid to the guardian of such child or children for such child or children in the sum of sixty percent of a first-class firefighter's monthly salary on January first during the year the pension is paid, to be divided equally among such children; provided, however, that if there is only one surviving child, that child shall receive a sum equal to forty percent of a first-class firefighter's monthly salary. All pensions to child or children shall terminate when the child or children reach the age of eighteen years.

4. As used in this section, the term “child” means: