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New Mexico Public Records

Aspiring genealogists, potential employers, and those settling estates may all have reasons to want to hunt down public records in New Mexico.

However, even with the best intentions, you may not always have an easy time tracking down the vital record, inmate results, or court documents you need. Sometimes, the public record is just hard to find.

After all, they may be handled by a variety of different departments. In other cases, the record is not available to the public due to exemptions.

Those needing to access records have a right to submit a request through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Every state has different processes, so it’s essential to know the state’s law before requesting any documents.

• Criminal Records
• Court Records
• Inmate Records
• Vital Records

What does the New Mexico public records law say?

In New Mexico, you will have the law on your side. The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA) give the public the right to inspect public records, which includes almost all public records in state and local government.

There are only 12 exemptions to public access. They are pretty in line with other states’ Freedom of Information Act laws.

Under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, anyone—even non-citizens—can gain access to public records. You cannot be asked why you are seeking the record in most cases.

Although there is no administrative appeals process, filing a suit against the agency is possible if your request was illegally denied. You can be awarded attorney fees and $100 per day in damages.

To learn more about the law, visit NewMexico.gov.

How can I access public records in New Mexico?

According to the New Mexico IPRA Compliance Guide, anyone seeking a public record can submit an oral or written request to the custodian of the relevant agency. A written request includes submissions by mail, email, or fax.

In order to obtain the public record promptly, be sure to include the following information in your request:

In general, a public records request should include:

• Your name
• Contact information
• The name of the document
• Details about the document
• A time frame that you would like to receive the materials by
• Document delivery method, mail or email

New Mexico Criminal Records

Criminal records in New Mexico are compiled from a wealth of information supplied by local, county, and state-operated institutions, including correctional facilities, law enforcement offices, and trial and appeal courts.

Most of the criminal records in New Mexico are kept in an online record depository.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains these records, which can be obtained through a criminal background report.

What’s on a New Mexico criminal record?

A criminal record, colloquially known as a “rap sheet,” collects that person’s criminal activity within the state jurisdiction.

This official collection of documents provides a compilation of arrests, criminal offenses, indictments, convictions, and, in some cases, incarceration details.

• Date of birth
• Photograph/mugshot
• Fingerprints
• Current and past addresses
• Former arrest records
• Current and past warrants
• Sex offender status

Where can I find New Mexico criminal records?

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains criminal records.

To obtain a record, you must submit a signed and notarized authorization form and a $15 check to the Department of Public Safety.

You can find the necessary forms by clicking the link above.

The requested records will be mailed to you within 7-14 days.

You can do a quick search of criminal records through the New Mexico Court Case Lookup tool.

There is plenty of detailed information on arrests, crimes, pleas, verdicts, etc.

There is also a searchable Sex Offender Registry hosted by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

Anyone can use the service to check by name, city, area/neighborhood, non-compliant offenders, internet names, email addresses, or phone numbers.

New Mexico Inmate records

The New Mexico Corrections Department has eight divisions, including the Adult Prisons Division (APD), which houses over 6,800 inmates in 11 prison facilities throughout the state, and the Probation and Parole Division (PPD) supervises approximately 18,500 offenders.

What’s on a New Mexico inmate record?

Public records are available on most New Mexico inmates who are currently incarcerated, on probation, and on parole. The following information will show up in search results:

• Name and aliases
• Date of Birth
• Height and weight
• DOC ID
• Booking photo
• Assigned location
• Sentence summary
• The agency housing the inmate – police department, state prison, etc.

Where can I find New Mexico inmate records?

The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) hosts an offender search online for the general public with information about inmates and those on probation and parole supervision.

To search for an inmate in New Mexico, you must know the offender’s first and last name or NMCD Number to start the search.

The NMCD does not have jurisdiction over the county’s or city’s detention facilities.

New Mexico Court Records

Although there are some exceptions, most court records in New Mexico are available to the public.

Online access is free and available for Appellate Court, Magistrate Court, Metropolitan Court, and New Mexico District Court records.

What’s on a New Mexico court record?

In most cases, court records are quite extensive and come with various documents. Most people find these documents to be the most helpful:

• Court minutes
• Case files
• Court orders
• Dockets
• Orders of the court
• Judgment documentation
• Jury records and files
• Witness documentation

Where can I find New Mexico court records?

You will use the New Mexico Case Lookup to access the court record.

The search tool can provide court documents from the following courts:

• New Mexico Supreme Court
• Court of Appeals
• District Court
• Magistrate Court
• Municipal Court

To narrow down your search, enter either the case number or, if you do not have it, specific criteria for a record, such as a person’s name, driver’s license, date of birth, or social security number.

The more information you input, the more targeted your results.

You can also limit your search to the case’s category, court type, or particular location and the date the case was filed.

New Mexico Vital Records

The New Mexico Department of Health maintains vital records in the state.

New Mexico’s vital records include:

• Birth Certificates
• Death Certificates
• Marriage Licenses
• Divorce Decrees

Public record requests for vital records in New Mexico will vary depending on the document you are requesting.

New Mexico Department of Health
New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 25767
Albuquerque, NM 87125

Phone number: 866-534-0051

What information do I need to request a New Mexico birth certificate?

The New Mexico Birth Record Search Application will ask for specific information when ordering a birth record.

• Full name on the birth record
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Parents’ full name before marriage

Where can I find a New Mexico birth certificate?

You can order a New Mexico birth certificate online by using VitalCheck.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a New Mexico birth record by completing the Birth Record Search Application and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified birth certificate in New Mexico is $10.

What information do I need for a death certificate in New Mexico?

The New Mexico Death Record Search Application will ask for specific details when ordering a death record.

• Full name on the death record
• Date of death
• Place of death
• Social security number
• Date of birth
• Spouse’s full name

Where can I find a New Mexico death record?

You can order a New Mexico death certificate online by using VitalCheck.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a New Mexico death record by completing the Death Record Search Application and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified death certificate in New Mexico is $5.

What information do I need to request a marriage certificate in New Mexico?

County Clerks maintain marriage records in New Mexico. The forms will vary depending on the county where the marriage happened.

Where can I find an existing New Mexico marriage record?

You can request a certified copy of a New Mexico marriage record by contacting the County Clerk where the event occurred.

Clerk Offices have different forms, fees, and processes.

Example – Bernalillo County Clerk
Bernalillo County Clerk Marriage Record Search
415 Silver Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone number: 505-468-1290

What information do I need to request a divorce certificate in New Mexico?

County Clerks maintain marriage records in New Mexico.

The forms will vary depending on the county where the divorce was granted.

Where can I find an existing New Mexico divorce record?

You can request a certified copy of a New Mexico divorce record by contacting the County Clerk where the divorce was granted.

Clerk Offices have different forms, fees, and processes.

Example – Bernalillo County Clerk
Bernalillo County Clerk Divorce Record Search
415 Silver Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone number: 505-468-1290

New Mexico Property Records

The County Assessor maintains property records in New Mexico.

The property records you can access include:

• Liens
• Land records
• Titles
• Property deeds
• Mortgages
• Property tax assessment records
• Zoning information
• Probate

For data, parcel, and tax maps, you will need to contact the Geographic Information System(GIS) to ask about public access.

What information do I need to request property records in New Mexico?

You will need basic information to access a public property record.

Forms, fees, and office hours will vary depending on the County Assessor’s Office.

Where can I find a New Mexico property record?

You will need to contact the County Assessor where the property record is maintained.

Example – Sandoval County
Sandoval County Public Records Request
P.O. Box 40
Bernalillo NM 87004

Phone number: 505-867-7500

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents of New Mexico State?

There is no requirement of citizenship to place a public records request in New Mexico.

Is there a records custodian in New Mexico?

According to New Mexico Public Information Laws, all government agencies must assign someone to serve as the records custodian.

What exemptions exist for public records requests in New Mexico?

There are some exemptions to the New Mexico IPRA. You can find them in the New Mexico IPRA Compliance Guide.

How long does that state have to respond to a public records request in New Mexico?

Generally, records custodians are required to give an estimated completion time if they think the request for public documents will surpass 15 business days.

Is there an appeals process for public records requests in New Mexico?

You can submit a complaint to New Mexico Attorney General via an Electronic Complaint Submission (ECS) application.

What fees are associated with requesting public records in New Mexico?

There are not any search fees for a public records search in the state of New Mexico, but agencies may charge fees for the actual cost of copying records.