New Mexico Probate Records
This entry was originally written by Karen Stein Daniel, CG and Margaret Windham for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Many early probates may be found at the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. Formal probate records are filed by the district court that serves a particular county, or by informal probate in the county clerk's office. The size and complexity of the estate determines whether it would be handled as a formal or informal practice.
There are thirteen judicial districts in the state, each covering one or more counties. In order to locate the work of the probate court, write to the clerk of the respective court in the county of focus for the research problem. Addresses found under Court Records (see below) apply to probate records as well. However, the county clerk's office may need to be contacted since laws change from time to time.