1. The payment into court by the petitioner of the amount of any award or the deposit in court of the amount estimated by the petitioner to be the just compensation for the property taken or condemned, shall be deemed to be a payment or deposit of money for the use of the persons entitled thereto.
2. Such payment or deposit shall constitute a payment to the persons entitled thereto to the extent of the moneys so paid or deposited into court.
3. Any such payment shall be as valid and effectual in all respects as if it were made by the petitioner directly to the person entitled thereto or, in the case of a person under legal disability, to the person’s guardian, whether or not:
(a) Such person or his or her whereabouts is known or unknown;
(b) Such person is under a legal disability; or
(c) There are adverse or conflicting claims to such awards.
4. The money paid into court shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by the court, and shall be paid out by the special master to the persons found to be entitled thereto by the final judgment of the court.
[19:135:1935; 1931 NCL § 6179.39]