Lincoln County Court Records

Lincoln County court records are official documentation of proceedings within the county's various courts. Court records are broadly categorized into two main types: criminal and civil records. Criminal court records provide a comprehensive history of an individual's progression through the justice system. The criminal process typically begins with an arrest, for which the resulting Lincoln County arrest records are generated by law enforcement to document the initial charges. In contrast, civil court records originate when one party files a formal lawsuit against another in a court of law.

Are Court Records Public in Lincoln County?

Yes. Court records in Lincoln County are public; however, they are exempt from the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) because the Act does not apply to the judiciary in the same manner as executive and local government agencies. Instead, public access to court records is governed by the New Mexico Supreme Court through court rules, specifically Rule 1-079 NMRA. The rule establishes a presumption that court records are open, although the court may restrict public access to certain documents. These include:

• Deposited wills not in probate
• Adult Protective Services Act proceedings
• Assisted Outpatient Treatment Act records
• Testing proceedings under § 24-2B-5.1 NMSA 1978
• Adoption records
• Mental health and developmental disabilities records

Lincoln County Court Records Search

Interested persons can generally access a Lincoln County court record by:

• Visiting the court where the case was initiated
• Searching the court's online court record search system
• Search third-party platforms

Lincoln County Courts

The local court system in Lincoln County functions within the Twelfth Judicial District, which also incorporates Otero County. There are several types of courts in the county, including the District Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and municipal courts. The District Court is the only court with general jurisdiction, handling major civil and criminal cases. The following are the addresses of the courthouses in the county.

Lincoln County Courthouse (District Court, Probate Court, and Carrizozo Magistrate Court)
300 Central Avenue
Carrizozo, NM 88301
District Phone: (575) 648-2432
District Fax: (575) 648-2581
Probate Phone: (575) 648-2394
Probate Fax: (575) 648-2576
Carrizozo Phone: (575) 648-2389
Carrizozo Fax: (575) 648-2695

Ruidoso Magistrate Court
101 Service Road
Ruidoso, NM 88345
Phone: (575) 378-7022
Fax: (575) 378-8508

Ruidoso Municipal Court
237 Service Road
Ruidoso, NM 88355
Phone: (575) 257-9055

Capitan Municipal Court
114 Lincoln Avenue
Capitan, NM 88316
Phone: (575) 354-2247

Ruidoso Downs Municipal Court
122 Downs Drive
Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
Phone: (575) 378-5316

Lincoln County Criminal and Civil Records

Criminal and civil court records in Lincoln County are primarily maintained by the District and Magistrate Courts. Municipal courts generally oversee cases involving violations of city or village ordinances.

Criminal records in the county encompass felony and misdemeanor records. While Lincoln County arrest records are primarily maintained by law enforcement agencies, the corresponding court case files are held by the courts. Civil court records, which document matters such as small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, divorces, and other private legal conflicts, are maintained in their entirety by the court.

To access criminal or civil case files, requesters may visit the appropriate court clerk's office in person to inspect or request copies. The IPRA allows court clerks to charge a reasonable fee for copying records, not to exceed $1 for standard paper copies, although inspection may not incur a fee.

Also, individuals can use the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup portal for online access to Lincoln County court records. The portal allows for name searches, case number searches, and DWI searches.

Lincoln County Marriage Records

Marriage records are documents filed with the Lincoln County Clerk's Office that verify a marital union within the county. A marriage record is generated from a marriage license, which is obtained by two persons wanting to get legally united in marriage in the county. Once obtained, and the ceremony is complete, the license is returned to the clerk's office and documented as the marriage record.

Marriage records are generally public, so basic information is accessible to anyone. To obtain a marriage record, individuals may visit the County Clerk's Office and provide information that can be used to identify the record. Once the record has been found, a copy will be made available at a fee.

Lincoln County Divorce Records

The Lincoln County District Court handles divorce proceedings in the county. These proceedings are initiated when one or both parties in a marriage petition the court to legally terminate the union. Divorce records are the resulting legal documents from the court case.

Divorce records are public, although access may be limited to protect sensitive information. To access divorce records, individuals may visit the District Court Clerk's Office or utilize the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup portal. Access through the portal is free, but in-person requests to obtain a copy may incur a fee.

Lincoln Birth Records

In New Mexico, birth records are managed at the state level by the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics rather than by individual counties. Birth records are governed by the New Mexico Vital Records Act, which restricts public access to birth records for 100 years after birth. To access a record within this period, the requester must be the person named on the record, an immediate family member, or someone with a tangible, legal interest in the record.

Lincoln County residents can request a birth certificate from the Bureau online through the approved third-party vendor or submit the Birth Record Search Application by mail to:

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

Residents can also make walk-in requests at the Lincoln County Public Health Office located at:

111 Kansas City Road
Ruidoso, NM 88345
Phone: (575) 258-3252
Fax: (575) 244-9577

Requesters should call to schedule an appointment before visiting the office. Requests for a birth certificate must be accompanied by a valid form of ID and the $10 fee for each certificate.

Lincoln Death Records

Lincoln County death records comprise details about a person's death in the county. These records are maintained by the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics per the Vital Records Act. Death records are not open to the public, accessible only to those with a direct and tangible interest.

Death certificates can be obtained in person at the Public Health Office in Lincoln County. They can also be obtained by mailing the Death Record Search Application to the Bureau or ordering the record online through the approved third-party vendor. The fee for a death certificate is $5 per copy.

Lincoln County Probate Court Records

Probate court records contain information about the estates of decedents and other matters involving protected persons. In Lincoln County, the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters, although the county has a Probate Court that generally oversees informal proceedings for probate of a will or the appointment of a personal representative.

Probate court records can be requested from the Probate Court or the District Court, depending on the case. Providing the name of the decedent, the filing date, and any available case information will help locate the record. Copy fees may apply.

Lincoln County Property Records

Lincoln County property records are primarily maintained by two offices: the County Clerk's Office and the Lincoln County Assessor. The County Clerk maintains ownership and land transaction documents, while the Assessor maintains tax assessment and valuation records.

Individuals can access Lincoln County property records at the relevant custodian's office. Additionally, property records can be viewed online via the Lincoln County Official Records Search portal.

Lincoln County Court Records Online

Third-party sites like Newmexicocourtrecords.us give individuals an alternative to conventional court record access options in Lincoln County. With these sites, individuals can conveniently access court records without visiting the courthouse. However, researchers should note that records accessed through third-party sites are for informational purposes only and cannot serve any legal purposes.