Bernalillo County Court Records Search
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Bernalillo County sits at the geographic and population center of New Mexico, with Albuquerque as both its largest city and the county seat. The county’s judicial system processes tens of thousands of cases annually across four distinct courts: the Second Judicial District Court, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, the Bernalillo County Probate Court, and the Los Ranchos Municipal Court. Each court generates and maintains its own body of records — docket entries, pleadings, motions, judgments, orders, and transcripts — all of which play a critical role in the administration of justice and in public accountability.
New Mexico offers several avenues for accessing court case information. Residents and researchers can consult official court clerk offices, use public-access terminals at courthouses, or turn to statewide electronic databases operated by the Judiciary. The NewMexicoCourts.us website may also help users identify publicly available case information across the state. The specific methods, forms, fees, and restrictions that apply to Bernalillo County records are outlined in the sections below.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bernalillo County?
Bernalillo County court cases can be located through online databases, written requests, or in-person visits. The approach depends on the court that handled the case and the type of document needed.
Statewide online search tools
The New Mexico Judiciary maintains three free or registration-based portals that cover Bernalillo County cases:
- New Mexico Courts Case Lookup — search by party name, case number, or attorney across all state courts. Displays docket entries, hearing dates, parties, and dispositions. No registration required.
- re:SearchNM — a Tyler Technologies platform that allows simultaneous searches across all 33 New Mexico counties. Provides access to case documents and filings stored in the Odyssey case management system. Free registration is required.
- IPRA Online Request Form — the Judiciary’s portal for submitting Inspection of Public Records Act requests, particularly useful for records predating 1997 that may not appear in electronic databases.
Requesting copies from the District Court
The Second Judicial District Court Clerk’s Office handles record requests for all District Court divisions. Requesters may either complete the Court Case Records Request Form and email it to the appropriate division, or use one of the division-specific online request forms. For questions, call (505) 841-5421.
District Court copy fees (Rule 1-099 NMRA):
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copies | $0.35 per page |
| Certification | $1.50 per document |
| Exemplification | $4.50 per document |
| Records on USB drive | $6.25 per drive |
| Records on CD or USB | $2.00 per disc/drive |
Payment may be made by attorney firm check, cash, money order, or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted.
Requesting copies from Metropolitan Court
Complete the Request for Copy of Court Record form and submit it by mail, email to metrrecordscustodian@nmcourts.gov, or fax to (505) 222-4831. Records can also be inspected in person at the courthouse.
Metropolitan Court copy fees:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Photocopy of a court record | $0.50 per page |
| Scanned/electronically transferred copy | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy surcharge | additional $0.50 per page |
| Court hearing recording on CD | $5.00 per CD |
In-person access
Public service windows at the District Court are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Metropolitan Court building is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with most judges beginning sessions at 8:30 a.m. The Probate Court is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Are Court Records Public in Bernalillo County?
Court records in Bernalillo County are presumed open to inspection under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), codified at NMSA 1978, §§ 14-2-1 through 14-2-12. The statute affirms that every person has a fundamental right to inspect public records maintained by governmental entities, including courts. The New Mexico Department of Justice oversees IPRA compliance statewide.
Records generally available to the public include:
- Civil complaints, answers, motions, and judgments
- Criminal docket sheets, indictments, and sentencing orders
- Domestic relations filings (with exceptions noted below)
- Probate petitions, wills admitted to probate, and estate inventories
- Metropolitan Court case filings and dispositions
- Property-related documents recorded with the County Clerk
Records excluded from public disclosure under state law:
- Records sealed by court order
- Medical and mental health records
- Adoption records
- Child abuse and neglect records
- Drug abuse treatment records
- Certain child custody and visitation records
- Juvenile delinquency records (maintained by Children’s Court)
When no specific statutory exemption applies, courts must make records available for inspection during regular business hours. Requesters who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek enforcement through the Attorney General’s office or the courts.
Bernalillo County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Bernalillo County are adjudicated by the Second Judicial District Court (felonies and some misdemeanors), the Metropolitan Court (misdemeanors, DWI, traffic violations, and domestic violence matters), and the Los Ranchos Municipal Court (petty misdemeanors and ordinance violations). The Children’s Court division handles juvenile delinquency matters.
Searching criminal court records online
All three statewide portals — the Case Lookup, re:SearchNM, and the IPRA request system — include Bernalillo County criminal case data. Users can search by defendant name, case number, or attorney.
Requesting District Court criminal records
Submit the Criminal Record Request online form or email a completed Court Case Records Request Form to albdcrim@nmcourts.gov.
District Court Criminal Division
Address: 400 Lomas Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 841-7444 or (505) 841-7542
Requesting Metropolitan Court criminal records
Submit the Request for Copy of Court Record form by mail, fax, or email:
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court — Customer Service
Address: 401 Lomas Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 841-8151
Fax: (505) 222-4831
Email: metrrecordscustodian@nmcourts.gov
Los Ranchos Municipal Court
Address: 6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Los Ranchos, NM 87107
Phone: (505) 344-6582 (ext. 110 for clerk)
Fax: (575) 635-4194
Email: mbaca@losranchosnm.gov
Law enforcement records
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and other criminal history documentation. The Records Management Division processes requests at the following location:
Sheriff’s Office — Records Management Division
Address: 415 Silver Ave. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 468-7140
Email: bcsorecords@bernco.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Jail and detention records
The Metropolitan Detention Center publishes an online inmate custody list and a release list that can be viewed without charge. General detention inquiries can be directed to (505) 839-8700 or mdc@bernco.gov.
Bernalillo County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Bernalillo County are divided between the District Court and the Metropolitan Court based on the amount in controversy.
Jurisdictional thresholds:
- Second Judicial District Court — civil claims exceeding $10,000, including torts, contract and debt matters, foreclosures, property damage, malpractice, name changes, driver’s license restorations, civil restraining orders, and criminal record expungements.
- Metropolitan Court — civil claims of $10,000 or less, including small claims actions. The civil filing fee is $77.
How to obtain District Court civil records
Complete the Civil Record Request online form or email a completed request form to albd-cvprosefilings-grp@nmcourts.gov.
District Court Civil Division
Address: 400 Lomas Blvd. NW, Room 119, 1st Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 841-7451
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (public windows 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
District Court filing fees (selected):
| Case Type | Filing Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Initial civil case or Children’s Court case | $132 | NMSA 1978, § 34-6-40 |
| Domestic relations case | $137 | NMSA 1978, §§ 34-6-40, 40-12-6 |
| Appeal of a criminal case from Metropolitan Court | $25 | NMSA 1978, § 35-13-2 |
| Civil jury demand (6-person) | $150/day | Rule 1-038 NMRA |
| Civil jury demand (12-person) | $300/day | Rule 1-038 NMRA |
Filing fees may be waived by court order upon a showing of financial hardship.
Property records
The Bernalillo County Clerk records and maintains deeds, liens, mortgages, judgments, maps, and plats. These documents can be searched and purchased through the Clerk’s Document Search Portal, which allows lookups by document number, party name, or recording date. The Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office maintains a separate property valuation search tool.
Bernalillo County Clerk
Address: 415 Silver Ave. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 468-1290
Bernalillo County Assessor
Address: 501 Tijeras NW, 1st Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 222-3700
Bernalillo County Family Court Records
The Domestic Relations Division of the Second Judicial District Court functions as Bernalillo County’s family court, resolving disputes involving divorce, legal separation, child custody and time-sharing, child support, paternity, kinship guardianship, and related matters. Domestic violence cases are handled by a separate division within the same court. Juvenile cases involving abuse, neglect, adoption, and mental health are processed through the Children’s Court.
How to request family court records
The District Court Clerk provides division-specific online forms for family-related records:
- Domestic Relations records request — for divorce, custody, paternity, and kinship guardianship files
- Domestic Violence records request — for protective order cases and related filings
Alternatively, submit the general Court Case Records Request Form by email to the relevant division:
| Division | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Relations | (505) 841-7421 | albdecopydm@nmcourts.gov |
| Child Support | (505) 841-6747 | — |
| Domestic Violence | (505) 841-6737 | albd-dvfilings-grp@nmcourts.gov |
| Children’s Court | (505) 841-7366 | albdjjc@nmcourts.gov |
Children’s Court
Address: 5100 Second Street NW, #173, Albuquerque, NM 87107
Phone: (505) 841-5906
Confidentiality restrictions
Custody and visitation records, child abuse and neglect files, adoption records, and juvenile delinquency files are generally exempt from public disclosure. Access to these categories is typically limited to the parties, their attorneys, and authorized government agencies.
Marriage records
Copies of marriage licenses can be searched and purchased through the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Document Search Portal. The Clerk’s office also processes in-person and phone requests at (505) 468-1290. To use the portal, select “Marriage Application, Search and Copies”, enter the known details (such as spouse name or document number), and follow the prompts to purchase a certified copy online.
Divorce records
Copies of divorce decrees are available from the District Court Clerk’s Domestic Relations Division using the online form or the general request form described above. Case Lookup and re:SearchNM also display dissolution-of-marriage docket information.
Birth and death certificates
The New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics issues birth and death certificates. These records are restricted under state law to the registrant, immediate family members (parent, sibling, child, grandchild, current spouse, or grandparent), or persons with documented legal interest.
To request by mail, complete the Birth Record Search Application or the Death Record Search Application and send to:
New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
The non-refundable search fee is $5 per certified copy for death records. For expedited service, certificates can be ordered through VitalChek (the Department’s authorized vendor) at (877) 284-0963, with fees of approximately $26–$44.50 depending on delivery speed.
In-person birth certificate requests can be made at the Midtown Public Health Office at 2400 Wellesley Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 (Phone: (505) 841-4170, hours Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.). Death certificate requests must go through the Santa Fe office at 2554 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87505 (Phone: (505) 827-0121, hours Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.). Birth certificates become public records 100 years after the date of birth, and death certificates become public 50 years after the date of death.
Bernalillo County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Bernalillo County are split between the Bernalillo County Probate Court and the Second Judicial District Court. The Probate Court handles informal and uncontested proceedings — including the admission of wills, issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration, and approval of estate inventories — while the District Court adjudicates contested estates, formal probate proceedings, and guardianship or conservatorship matters involving incapacitated adults.
Searching Probate Court records
The Probate Court maintains its own Case Lookup Portal containing records from 1964 to the present. Users can search by case number or party name to view filings, orders, and other documents in the court’s electronic database.
Bernalillo County Probate Court
Address: 415 Silver Ave. SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 468-1229
Fax: (505) 468-1298
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
To obtain official copies of probate documents, visitors may appear in person or call (505) 468-1233.
Requesting District Court probate records
For contested matters or formal probate proceedings handled by the District Court, submit a request through the Clerk’s online records request system or email a completed form to the Civil Division at albd-cvprosefilings-grp@nmcourts.gov. The initial filing fee for a formal probate case in District Court is $132 (NMSA 1978, § 34-6-40). Standard copy charges of $0.35 per page, $1.50 per certification, and $4.50 per exemplification apply to all District Court document requests.
Probate records from both courts are also searchable through the statewide Case Lookup and re:SearchNM portals, though actual document images may only be available on re:SearchNM for records that have been digitized into the Odyssey system.