Bernalillo County Court Records

Court records in Bernalillo County originate from legal proceedings brought by private citizens, businesses/organizations, or government entities to the county’s justice system. These proceedings entail civil (non-criminal) and criminal claims filed to enforce or clarify a law, determine civil rights, obtain financial compensation, or secure an order compelling or prohibiting a particular action.

Court records, as the official accounts of case activity, enable transparency and accountability within the justice system. These records are maintained by court clerk’s offices and disseminated in accordance with the applicable New Mexico State regulations.

Bernalillo court records frequently overlap with other public records. For instance, public records-such as vital records, arrest reports, and property records-may be filed in a court proceeding, making them part of the associated court case files. Moreover, reviewing court records alongside other public documents (like arrest records) can offer crucial insights into a legal issue.

Are Bernalillo County Court Records Public?

Yes. According to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), NMSA 1978, §§ 14-2-1 through 14-2-12, Bernalillo County court records are accessible to the general public. The Act fosters public access to the public records of governmental entities in New Mexico, including the courts in Bernalillo County.

However, the Act, along with other applicable statutes and court rules-such as Rule 1-079 NMRA-designates certain information or documents as confidential. Consequently, access to these records is restricted solely to legally entitled individuals, such as the participants in the case. Examples of these confidential records are provided below.

Attorney-client privileged information
Wills deposited with the court under § 45-2-515 NMSA 1978 that have not been entered into informal or formal probate proceedings
Records of adoption proceedings
Records pertaining to physical/mental examinations and medical treatment of persons confined to any institution
Records of guardianship proceedings
Expunged records
Tax returns

What Information is Available in Bernalillo County Court Records?

Bernalillo County court records may include the following

Complaints (from both civil and criminal cases)
Motions
Dockets and court calendars
Evidence and exhibits
Summonses
Subpoenas
Notices (e.g., hearing and trial notices)
Warrants and other writs issued by the court
Proofs/returns of service
Court orders and judgments
Appeal-related materials

Bernalillo County Court Records Search

Bernalillo County court records can be searched for and accessed as follows:

Online Access: The New Mexico State Judiciary manages a few online portals for accessing Bernalillo County court records remotely:
- The New Mexico Case Lookup system: This database provides public access to individual electronic court records. No registration is required to use the portal.

Users can search by a case party’s name or a case number. The information displayed is summarized in nature, including details such as the names and types of parties involved, the presiding judge, the case number, the filing date, and a Register of Actions (a chronological log of all case events and filings).

For earlier court records (prior to 1997), individuals can seek access by completing the designated Online Request Form.

- re:Search®NM : Registered users-such as attorneys, justice partners, press, and self-represented litigants-can access court case information and documents from across New Mexico, including Bernalillo County, through this online application. The system offers search functionality with filters for case number, a case party’s name, or an attorney of record’s name.

Additionally, the Bernalillo County Probate Court maintains an online Case Lookup system for accessing local probate records from 1964 to the present date.

In-Person Access: Another option for court record searches in Bernalillo County is to visit the records department or clerk’s office of the court where the case was filed. For example, individuals seeking documents from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court may stop by the Records Viewing Room (1st floor of the courthouse) during regular business hours.

Meanwhile, to obtain case records from the Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court, interested individuals should contact the Office of the Clerk of Court. The court offers specific document request forms, categorized by the type of case or document, which may be completed and submitted at the courthouse.

Viewing records at the courthouse is usually free of charge, though there is a small fee for obtaining copies, typically assessed per page or per document.

Mail and Phone Requests: Mail requests for Bernalillo County court records involve forwarding a request letter for a particular court record to the court that heard the case. Where the presiding court provides a form, individuals may print and complete that form instead (for example, the Court Case Records Request Form offered by the Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court). Requesters will also need to include the relevant copy fee, typically payable by check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for the return of copies.

Bernalillo County courts generally do not handle phone requests for court records. Nonetheless, individuals may call to make inquiries about the court record request process.

Fees for Court Records in Bernalillo County

Fees for Bernalillo County, New Mexico, court records are determined by several variables. These factors include the specific court involved, the kind of document requested, and the method of access used.

Online access to court records is provided at no charge, a policy consistent with in-person reviews at the courthouse. However, obtaining a physical or electronic copy of a court record incurs a fee. The specific costs, categorized by certain local courts, are detailed in the table below.

Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court	Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
Photocopies - 35 cents per page	Photocopies - 50 cents per page
Certification - $1.50 per document, plus copy charges	Certification - 50 cents per document, plus copy charges
Exemplification - $4.50 per document, plus copy charges	Computer-Generated or Electronically Transferred Copy - $1 per page.
Audio Records or Other Records provided on CD - $4	CD (Copy of a Court Hearing) - $5

Note: Although the courts can issue copies of divorce decrees, they do not maintain marriage documents. The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office is the issuer of certified copies of marriage records in Bernalillo County. Marriage records procured from the County Clerk cost $3 per certified copy. To get other vital records (birth/death), eligible persons can approach the New Mexico Department of Health - Vital Records Division.

Bernalillo County Courthouse Locations

Bernalillo County is home to four regional courts that handle legal matters: the Bernalillo County District Court, the Bernalillo County District Court - Children’s Court, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, and the Los Ranchos Municipal Court. For details on the jurisdiction of these courts, one can refer to the New Mexico Judiciary’s About the Courts website. Below is a local court directory.

Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court

Bernalillo County Courthouse

400 Lomas Boulevard Northwest

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone (Main): (505) 841-8400

Bernalillo County Second Judicial District - Children’s Court

John E. Brown Juvenile Justice Center

5100 Second Street Northwest

Albuquerque, NM 87107

Phone: (505) 841-7581

Cases heard at the district courthouses include divorce, name change, civil claims exceeding $10,000, criminal (felony), child support, orders of protection, and foreclosure.

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court

401 Lomas Boulevard Northwest

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone: (505) 841-8151

This courthouse hears a variety of legal matters, including traffic citations, criminal (misdemeanor), landlord-tenant, civil claims under $10,000, and preliminary hearings.

Bernalillo County Probate Court

415 Silver Avenue Southwest

2nd Floor

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone: (505) 468-1229

Fax: (505) 468-1298

The probate courthouse presides over matters such as wills, estates, and guardianships.

Los Ranchos Municipal Court

6718 Rio Grande Boulevard Northwest

Los Ranchos, NM 87107

Phone: (505) 344-6582

Fax: (505) 344-8978

The municipal court hears cases such as code enforcement, petty misdemeanors, DWI/DUI (driving while intoxicated/driving under the influence), and traffic violations.

Criminal Records Access in Bernalillo County

To access copies of criminal court records in Bernalillo County, individuals will need to contact the clerk’s office or court where the case proceedings took place. Excluding the probate court, all courts in Bernalillo County possess some criminal jurisdiction. To locate the presiding criminal court, individuals can use the New Mexico Case Lookup system to search by name or case number. Nominal fees apply to obtain copies from courts in Bernalillo.

For statewide criminal record reviews in New Mexico, inquiries should be directed to the New Mexico Law Enforcement Records Bureau (LERB). This department maintains criminal record information on individuals arrested on felony, misdemeanor, and DWI charges throughout the state. Each record check costs $15. However, disclosure is restricted to the subject of the record, their counsel, or their authorized agent, as mandated by the New Mexico Arrest Record Information Act (ARIA).

Bernalillo County Probate Records

Probate records originate from probate proceedings held in a court of jurisdiction. The court that handles these proceedings in Bernalillo is the Bernalillo County Probate Court. The court’s oversight extends to wills, the administration of decedents’ estates, guardianships, and trusts.

Individuals have the following ways to look up wills and other probate filings or records in Bernalillo:

Access the probate court’s Case Lookup system. This web application can be searched by name, case number, filing date, or the decedent’s (deceased person) date of death.
Visit or write to the probate court. It is advisable to call ahead of time to verify record availability and request processes. Requesters will need to possess certain case information, such as a participant’s name or case number.

It should be noted that while probate records are generally accessible to the public, confidential documents, such as financial data and personal identifiers, are only available to eligible parties.

Bernalillo County Family Court Records

Family court records in Bernalillo County comprise all documentation produced or filed during family law or domestic relations proceedings. The Bernalillo County Second Judicial District has exclusive jurisdiction over broader domestic matters, such as adult adoption, divorce, child support, child custody, legal separation, domestic violence, kinship guardianship, and parentage. The court manages and disseminates the corresponding family court records. Access options are highlighted below.

Complete and submit the Domestic Relations Case Records Request Online Form. The form is emailed directly to the Domestic Relations Clerk’s Office. Copy charges apply-35 cents per page for photocopies and $1.50 per document for certification.
Use the New Mexico Case Lookup system to obtain remote access to divorce case information.
Call the Domestic Relations Clerk’s Office at (505) 841-7421.

Note: Bernalillo County’s judicial system also includes a Children’s Court. This court handles specific family law matters that involve minors, such as adoption and cases concerning a child in need of services.

Interested individuals can submit a completed Children’s Court Case Records Request Online Form, utilize the New Mexico Case Lookup system, or contact the Children’s Court Clerk’s Office at (505) 841-7581 for record access procedures. However, as cases in the Children’s Court involve minors, many records from this court are confidential and only limited information may be available to the general public.

The Bernalillo County judicial system includes a Children’s Court that addresses specific family law matters involving minors, such as adoption and cases concerning a child in need of services.

To access Children’s Court case records, interested individuals have several options: submit the online Children’s Court Case Records Request Form, navigate to the New Mexico Case Lookup system, or contact the Children’s Court Clerk’s Office at (505) 841-7581 for access guidelines. It is important to note, however, that due to the involvement of minors, many records in the Children’s Court are confidential, and only limited information is available to the general public.

Federal Court Records in Bernalillo County

The federal court with jurisdiction over Bernalillo County, New Mexico, is the U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Pete V. Domenici U.S. Courthouse

333 Lomas Boulevard Northwest

Albuquerque, NM 87102

U.S. Historic Courthouse

421 Gold Avenue Southwest

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone: (505) 348-2000

Fax: (505) 348-2028

This court is responsible for all federal law matters originating within the county. Access to case records can be obtained through the U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office (as explained on the court’s Records page) or via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service, which is a fee-based system for searching case files.