Chaves County Court Records Search
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Chaves County sits in southeastern New Mexico with its county seat in Roswell. The county falls within the Fifth Judicial District, which also serves Eddy and Lea counties. Court records generated here span criminal prosecutions in District and Magistrate courts, civil litigation, domestic-relations matters, and probate proceedings handled through the County Clerk’s office. Because multiple offices share responsibility for different record types, knowing which office holds a particular file — and what tools are available to search it — can save considerable time.
New Mexico maintains several electronic resources that allow the public to look up court case information remotely. The statewide Case Lookup portal, operated by the New Mexico judiciary, covers District, Magistrate, Metropolitan, and Municipal courts. Researchers can also explore NewMexicoCourts.us for additional guidance on locating publicly available case data across the state. Beyond online tools, records may be obtained directly from clerk offices, public-access terminals at courthouses, or by written request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Chaves County?
The method you use depends on the type of case and the level of detail you need. Below are the primary options.
Online search tools:
- NM Case Lookup — Free browser-based portal. Search by party name, case number, or attorney across all Fifth Judicial District courts. Available at caselookup.nmcourts.gov.
- re:SearchNM — An additional public search interface at researchnm.tylerhost.net that indexes court records statewide.
- Chaves County Public Document Search — The County Clerk provides an online document search covering recorded instruments such as deeds, liens, and marriage records. Copies obtained through this portal cost $0.50 per page.
In-person research:
| Court / Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Chaves County District Court | 400 N. Virginia Ave., Roswell, NM 88201 | (575) 622-4121 |
| Roswell Magistrate Court | 400 N. Virginia Ave., Ste G-1, Roswell, NM 88201 | (575) 624-6088 |
| Chaves County Clerk’s Office | 1 St. Mary’s Place, Suite 110, Roswell, NM 88203 | (575) 624-6614 |
| Roswell Municipal Court | 420 N. Richardson Ave., Roswell, NM 88202 | (575) 624-6725 |
| Dexter Municipal Court | 115 E. Second St., Dexter, NM 88230 | (575) 734-5400 |
| Hagerman Municipal Court | 209 E. Argyle St., Hagerman, NM 88232 | (575) 752-3202 |
| Lake Arthur Municipal Court | 501 N. Maine St., Lake Arthur, NM 88253 | (575) 365-2902 |
District Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–5:00 p.m. The County Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
By mail: Written requests should be directed to the specific court or clerk that maintains the record. Include as much identifying information as possible — full party names, case number, approximate filing date — along with the applicable copy fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Are Court Records Public in Chaves County?
New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) establishes a broad presumption that government records, including court files, are open to inspection. Under NMSA 1978 § 14-2-1, every person has the right to inspect public records unless a specific statutory exception applies.
The judiciary supplements IPRA with its own access framework. Rule 1-079 NMRA governs public access to court records in the District Courts and sets out the categories of information that must be restricted or sealed.
Records generally open to the public include:
- Criminal case dockets, charges, and dispositions
- Civil complaints, answers, motions, and judgments
- Probate filings (with certain exceptions)
- Land records, liens, and recorded instruments
- Marriage license applications
Records that are restricted or sealed include:
- Adoption proceedings
- Guardianship and conservatorship records (portions)
- Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect cases
- Mental-health commitment proceedings
- Records sealed by court order under Rule 1-079
- Expungement orders and related files
- Adult Protective Services reports
When a record contains both public and confidential information, the court may redact the protected portions and release the remainder. Requests for sealed records require a motion and a court order before access will be granted. The NM Courts IPRA portal provides a mechanism for submitting formal inspection requests to the judiciary.
Chaves County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Chaves County are processed through two primary courts. Felonies and serious misdemeanors are tried in the Fifth Judicial District Court, while lower-level misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and initial felony appearances go through the Roswell Magistrate Court. Municipal courts in Roswell, Dexter, Hagerman, and Lake Arthur handle violations of local ordinances and certain traffic offenses.
Searching criminal case records:
- Use the NM Case Lookup portal to search by defendant name or case number.
- Visit the District Court clerk’s window at 400 N. Virginia Ave., Roswell, during business hours to review paper files.
- Request copies by mail — photocopies are $0.35 per page at the District Court and $0.50 per page at the Magistrate Court; certification costs $1.50 per seal at the District Court level.
District Court criminal filing fees:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Magistrate criminal appeal | $35.00 |
| Municipal appeal | $20.00 |
| Photocopies | $0.35/page |
| Certification | $1.50/seal |
| Tape/CD duplication | $4.00 each |
Criminal background checks:
The Chaves County Sheriff’s Office (1 St. Mary’s Place, Roswell, NM 88203; Phone: (575) 624-6500) can provide information about local records. For a formal statewide criminal-history search, requests must go through the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, Law Enforcement Records Bureau. Fees are $15 per arrest-record check, payable by money order or cashier’s check. Fingerprint cards cost $9 for the first two cards and $2.50 for each additional card.
Key restrictions: Under NMSA 1978 § 14-2-1 and Rule 1-079, certain criminal records may be sealed or expunged by court order. Juvenile delinquency files are not accessible through public search tools. Cases that result in a nolle prosequi, dismissal, or acquittal may be eligible for sealing upon petition.
Chaves County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Chaves County are divided between the District Court and the Magistrate Court based on the amount in controversy. The District Court hears cases exceeding $10,000 as well as equity actions, injunctions, and appeals from lower courts. The Magistrate Court handles civil claims up to $10,000.
How to search civil records:
- Online: The Case Lookup tool indexes civil dockets for both courts. The re:SearchNM platform provides an alternative search interface.
- In person: Visit the District Court clerk at 400 N. Virginia Ave. or the Magistrate Court clerk in Suite G-1 of the same building.
- By mail: Direct written requests to the appropriate clerk with identifying information and prepaid copy fees.
District Court civil filing fees (Fifth Judicial District):
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil or probate case | $132.00 |
| Magistrate civil appeal | $132.00 |
| Other appeals | $132.00 |
| Jury demand (6-person) | $150.00/day |
| Jury demand (12-person) | $300.00/day |
| Photocopies | $0.35/page |
| Certification | $1.50/seal |
Magistrate Court civil filing fees:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil case | $77.00 |
| Jury demand | $100.00/day |
| Photocopies (certified or uncertified) | $0.50/page |
| Fax copy | $1.00 |
| Electronic copy (email) | $1.00 |
Accepted payment methods at both courts include cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, and credit cards. The Fifth Judicial District fees page provides the complete schedule. Parties who cannot afford filing fees may request a fee waiver using the sliding-fee-scale form available for the Chaves County SESV program.
The County Clerk’s office also maintains recorded civil instruments — including judgments, liens, and UCC financing statements — which can be searched through the Public Document Search portal at $0.50 per page for copies.
Chaves County Family Court Records
Domestic-relations cases in Chaves County — including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, and adoptions — are handled by the Fifth Judicial District Court. There is no separate family-court division; these matters are filed and tracked within the District Court system.
Filing fees for domestic cases:
- New domestic case (divorce, custody, support): $137.00
- Photocopies: $0.35 per page
- Certification: $1.50 per seal
Domestic mediation may be ordered or requested. A sliding-scale fee schedule for domestic mediation is available through the Fifth Judicial District.
Searching family case records:
Divorce decrees, custody orders, and support modifications can be located through Case Lookup by entering either party’s name or the case number. Certain sensitive filings — particularly those involving children, domestic violence victims, or sealed protective orders — may not appear in the public results.
Marriage licenses:
The Chaves County Clerk issues marriage licenses at 1 St. Mary’s Place, Suite 110, Roswell. The application fee is $25, and the total cost is $55, payable by cash, MasterCard, or Visa. Certified copies of marriage records are $2.50 each; duplicate certificates cost $5.
Birth and death certificates:
These vital records are not maintained by the courts. The New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records manages them at the state level:
- Mail requests: P.O. Box 26110, Santa Fe, NM 87502. Fees are $10 per birth certificate and $5 per death certificate. Processing takes 6–12 weeks.
- In-person requests: 2554 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87505; Phone: (505) 827-0121 Fees are the same as mail.
- Online/phone orders: Expedited orders cost $26 (birth, regular mail) or $44.50 (birth, UPS delivery); $21 (death, regular mail) or $39.50 (death, UPS delivery). Credit cards are accepted.
Confidentiality: Adoption files are sealed and require a court order to unseal. Domestic violence protective-order petitions may contain restricted personal information that is not disclosed through public search tools. Guardianship matters involving minors are also subject to access limitations under Rule 1-079.
Chaves County Probate Court Records
Unlike most states, New Mexico assigns probate jurisdiction to the County Clerk rather than to a separate probate court. In Chaves County, probate matters — including the administration of estates, probate of wills, and appointment of personal representatives — are filed with and managed by the Chaves County Clerk’s Office.
Chaves County Probate Court
Address: 1 St. Mary’s Place, Suite 110, Roswell, NM 88203
Phone: (575) 624-6614
Fax: (575) 624-6523
How to file a probate case:
- Obtain a probate packet (with or without will) from the Clerk’s Office — cost is $5.00.
- Complete the Application for Informal Probate. If a will exists, bring the original.
- Provide the original death certificate. The decedent must have been deceased for at least 120 hours, and the filing must occur within three years of death.
- Pay the initial filing fee of $30.00 (non-refundable).
- When printing forms from the Supreme Court website, use single-sided pages.
Probate-related fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Probate packet (with or without will) | $5.00 |
| Initial filing fee | $30.00 |
| Copies | $0.15/page |
| Certifications | $0.50/document |
| Clerk’s certificates | $1.50 |
| Exemplification certificates | $1.50 |
Searching probate records:
Probate filings can be located through the County Clerk’s online document search or by visiting the office during business hours. Wills admitted to probate and letters of administration are generally public records. However, guardianship proceedings and conservatorship files may contain restricted information under Rule 1-079.
For contested estates or matters that exceed the informal probate process, the case is transferred to the Fifth Judicial District Court, where it is treated as a civil filing with a $132.00 filing fee. Appeals from probate decisions also proceed to the District Court.
Researchers seeking historical probate documents — particularly older wills and estate inventories — may find additional records through the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives in Santa Fe, which holds historical court files from counties across the state.