Bernalillo County Court Records

Bernalillo County Court records are official documents relating to cases filed and adjudicated by courts in the county. Court records contain several kinds of information, such as the following:

• Attorney details
• Parties’ details
• Court dockets
• Court calendars
• Parties’ pleadings
• Witness details
• Exhibits
• Court judgment
• Orders
• Petitions
• Warrants

By accessing court records, litigants and researchers can determine and study court precedents on certain legal matters. Additionally, access to court records is important for parties in legal disputes when they need to institute appeals or enforce court judgments and orders.

Are Court Records Public in Bernalillo County?

In Bernalillo County, court records are open to the public. The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act allows the public to access records in the custody of public agencies, including the courts. However, state law exempts certain records from public disclosure, which include:

• Records sealed by court order
• Medical and mental health records
• Adoption records
• Child abuse and neglect records
• Drug abuse treatment records
• Child custody and visitation records

Bernalillo County Court Records Search

Bernalillo County court records can be accessed by members of the public through several means. Each court in the county maintains its case records. As such, record seekers can contact the relevant division or court clerk to obtain physical copies of court records. Alternatively, record seekers may search Bernalillo County court records online using the official case search portals or third-party websites.

Bernalillo County Court Records Search by Name

Online portals containing Bernalillo County court records allow users to search cases using the parties’ names. This facilitates smooth record searches, especially when the record seeker does not have enough information about the case records. It also serves as a way to obtain relevant information required for requesting physical court records from the relevant custodian.

To search Bernalillo County court records by name, open the relevant court webpage, select the online search option, and input the party’s name on the online form in the appropriate order. Some online repositories may require the requester to provide additional information, such as a date of birth or driver’s license number.

Bernalillo County Courts

Bernalillo County’s court system consists of the District Court, Metropolitan Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Court. The District Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including torts, contractual disputes, real estate matters, misdemeanors, and felonies. The court also handles domestic relations and formal probate matters to the exclusion of other courts. The Children’s Court, a division of the District Court, handles juvenile, adoption, and mental health cases. The Metropolitan Court handles civil cases involving up to $10,000, misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and domestic violence cases. Meanwhile, the Municipal Court has jurisdiction over petty misdemeanors and municipal ordinance violations. The Probate Court handles informal and uncontested probate matters.

Listed below are the locations of all the courts in Bernalillo County:

Bernalillo County 2nd Judicial District Court
Bernalillo County Courthouse
400 Lomas Blvd. NW
P.O. Box 488
Albuquerque, NM 87103
Phone: (505) 841-8400

Bernalillo County Children’s Court, 2nd Judicial District
John E. Brown Juvenile Justice Center
5100 Second Street NW, #173
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Phone: (505) 841-5906

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
401 Lomas Blvd. NW
P.O. Box 133
Albuquerque, NM 87103
Phone: (505) 841-8151
Fax: (505) 222-4831

Bernalillo County Probate Court
One Civic Plaza NW, 6th Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 468-1234
Fax: (505) 468-1298

Los Ranchos Municipal Court
6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW
Los Ranchos, NM 87107
Phone: (505) 344-6582
Fax: (505) 344-8978

Bernalillo County District Court Records

The Bernalillo County District Court is the highest trial court in the county. Its jurisdiction covers numerous cases, including civil claims involving more than $10,000, criminal cases, probate cases, divorce cases, and juvenile matters. Official documents, materials, and information relating to these cases constitute district court records in Bernalillo County. To request copies of these records, send a completed Court Case Record Request via email to the relevant division of the District Court Clerk’s office. Alternatively, complete the online records request form for the applicable division. Bernalillo County district court records cost 35 cents per page. However, requesters who require certification and exemplification of their copies must pay an additional charge of $1.50 and $4.50 per document, respectively.

Record seekers may also check District Court records using online search tools like the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup, the IPRA Online Request Form (for records before 1997), and the re:SearchNM portal. The Case Lookup allows users to search records by name and case number, while the re:SearchNM portal also has a search by attorney feature. Also note that the re:SearchNM portal requires users to register.

Bernalillo County Criminal Records

Bernalillo County criminal records are official documents containing residents’ criminal history, including arrests, charges, prison, and probation records. These records are maintained by law enforcement agencies in the county.

The Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Bernalillo County responsible for investigating and arresting offenders, preferring charges, and operating the county jail. Anyone can obtain Bernalillo county arrest and criminal records in the custody of the Sheriff’s Office by contacting them at:

415 Silver Ave NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 468-7140
Email: bcsorecords@bernco.gov

Additionally, interested persons may visit the Metropolitan Detention Center website to access the inmate custody and release list. Anyone may also contact the county’s detention center at:

100 Deputy Dean Miera Drive SW
Albuquerque, NM 87151
Phone: (505) 839-8700
Email: mdc@bernco.gov

Bernalillo County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The District, Metropolitan, and Municipal Courts adjudicate criminal cases in Bernalillo County. To obtain records of felony and misdemeanor cases handled by the district court, fill out the online Criminal Record Request Form or send a completed Court Case Records Request Form via email to the criminal division of the district court clerk.

Criminal case records of the metropolitan court are available for physical inspection at the courthouse. Record seekers can also request the records by sending a completed Request for Copy of Court Record Form by mail, email, or fax using the contact address below.

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
Attn: Customer Service Division
401 Lomas NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Fax: (505) 222-4831
Email: metrrecordscustodian@nmcourts.gov

For records of cases handled by the Los Ranchos Municipal Court, contact the court clerk by phone at (505) 344-6582 ext. 110, fax at (575) 635-4194, or via email. Note that requesters must pay applicable fees to obtain copies of court records in Bernalillo County.

In addition to physical access, anyone can view Bernalillo County criminal court records online through any of the following means:

• The New Mexico Courts Case Lookup
• IPRA Online Request Form (for records before 1997)
• The re:SearchNM portal, which requires registration
• Third-party websites

Get Bernalillo County Civil Court Records

Civil court records refer to official information and documents relating to civil case proceedings in the county. Common examples of cases that form part of Bernalillo civil court records include:

• Disputes over property
• Monetary claims
• Consumer protection cases
• Personal injury cases
• Torts
• Small claims

Bernalillo County civil court records can be accessed online through the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup, the IPRA Online Request Form, and the re:SearchNM portal. Likewise, record seekers may request physical copies of civil court records from the District or Metropolitan Court, depending on the type of case. To request civil records of the District Court, complete the online Civil Record Request Form or submit a Court Case Records Request Form to the civil division of the court clerk’s office via email. Similarly, interested persons can inspect civil case records of the metropolitan court at the court’s location in person. Another option is to fill out the Request for Copy of Court Record form and forward the completed form to the court via mail, email, or fax to (505) 222-4831.

Bernalillo County Family Court Records

In Bernalillo County, family court records are generated during the adjudication of domestic relations matters like divorce, legal separation, child support, domestic violence, paternity, custody, and kinship guardianship. These cases are within the authority of the domestic relations division of the district court, which serves as the county’s family court.

Interested persons can request Bernalillo County family court records by completing the online request for domestic relations or domestic violence records, as the case may be. Requesters can also instead fill out the Court Case Records Request Form and submit it via email to the appropriate division of the district court clerk’s office. Furthermore, Bernalillo County family court records can also be accessed through online portals like the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup and the re:SearchNM portal. However, certain family court records, such as custody, visitation, and sealed records, are confidential and open only to certain persons and government bodies.

Bernalillo County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Bernalillo’s dissolution of marriage records consist of documents and files relating to the termination of marriages in Bernalillo County. These records include divorce decrees, petitions, transcripts, and other divorce-related documents. The clerk of the district court maintains dissolution of marriage records filed in Bernalillo County. To access these records, interested residents may either complete the Case Records Request Form and email it to the court clerk or fill out the online request form. Furthermore, dissolution of marriage records are available on the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup, the re:SearchNM portal, and other third-party websites.

Bernalillo County Marriage and Divorce Records

In Bernalillo County, marriage records relate to the legal union of two individuals, while divorce records document the official termination of such union. These records are generally open to public access unless sealed by a court order. Sealed divorce records are only accessible by the parties involved or their counsel.

To purchase certified copies of marriage records in Bernalillo County, interested persons should take the following steps:

• Login under Public Users via the County Clerk Document Search Portal.
• Fill in the required fields, such as document number or spouse’s name, and click Search.
• Click Purchase and Proceed as Guest.
• Select the preferred shipping method, enter the required information, and confirm payment.

Record seekers may also obtain official copies of marriage records by calling (505) 468-1290 or visiting the Bernalillo County Clerk’s office at:

Bernalillo County Clerk
415 Silver SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102

For divorce records, contact the clerk of the district court to obtain official copies.

Bernalillo County Birth and Death Records

Bernalillo birth and death records encompass official documents containing information about births and deaths within Bernalillo County. These records are not accessible to the general public because they typically hold sensitive information. Access to birth and death records is only granted to the registrant of such records or the registrant’s immediate family members, such as parents, children, siblings, grandchildren, current spouses, or grandparents. Any person who represents tangible proof of legal interest in the birth and death records may also be granted access to such documents. However, in Bernalillo County, birth certificates automatically become public records 100 years after birth. Similarly, death certificates become available for public viewing 50 years after death.

Eligible record seekers can obtain Bernalillo County birth and death certificates by requesting them from the New Mexico Department of Health. To request via mail, complete the Birth Record Search Application (also available in Spanish) or the Death Record Application (also available in Spanish) to

New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502

The department also accepts mailed letter requests instead of the application forms. In any case, requests must include the relevant details about the subject and requesters, a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID of the requester, and evidence of payment of the applicable fees.

Applicants may also request Bernalillo County birth and death records online from the third-party website nominated on the department’s website. In-person requests can be made at the locations below.

For birth records:

Midtown Public Health Office
2400 Wellesley Dr NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Phone: (505) 841-4170

For death records:

Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics
2554 Camino Entrada
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (505) 827-0121

Bernalillo County Probate Court Records

Bernalillo County probate records consist of wills, codicils, estate inventories, letters of administration, and other documents relating to the administration of a deceased person’s estate. These documents contain information about the property of the deceased, the identities of heirs, and legal proceedings taken to settle the estate.

In Bernalillo County, the probate and district courts share jurisdiction over probate matters. The probate court maintains an online database containing records of cases filed in the court. Residents may usee the Probate Court Case Lookup Portal to access probate records from 1964 to date. Additionally, anyone may visit the Probate Court location physically or call (505) 468-1233 to obtain official copies of probate documents.

Similarly, requesters can obtain probate court records in the custody of the district court either by emailing a completed Court Case Record Request to the District Court Clerk’s office or by completing the relevant online records request form. Probate records of the district court are also available on the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup and the re:SearchNM online portals.

Bernalillo County Property Records

The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office maintains several official public records, including property records such as deeds, liens, mortgages, judgments, maps, and plats. These records can be accessed through the Document Search Portal, which contains property-related documents recorded by the Bernalillo County Clerk. In addition, the Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office maintains a Property Record Search Portal, which members of the public may use to identify, classify, and value real and personal property.

Requesters can also visit the County Clerk and the County Assessor at their respective locations stated below.

Bernalillo County Clerk
415 Silver SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Bernalillo County Assessor
501 Tijeras NW 1st Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 222-3700

Bernalillo County Court Records Online

Numerous third-party websites, such as Newmexicocourtrecords.us, offer seamless access to public court records online. Using these tools eliminates the need for physical visits to the offices of record custodians in the county. However, on the flip side, information provided by third-party websites may not be as current, complete, or comprehensive.