North Dakota Century Code Title 28. Judicial Procedure, Civil § 28-01-38. When action deemed commenced

An action is commenced as to each defendant when the summons is served on that defendant, or on a codefendant who is a joint contractor or otherwise united in interest with that defendant. An attempt to commence an action is equivalent to the commencement thereof within the meaning of this chapter when the summons, with the intent that it shall be actually served, is delivered:

Such an attempt must be followed within sixty days by the first publication of the summons or the service thereof.