Court records of Santa Fe County, New Mexico, are available through several channels. SantaFeCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through official state court online portals, the Clerk of Court's office, and public terminals directly in the courthouse building.
Santa Fe Court System & Jurisdictions
Santa Fe County is part of the First Judicial District, which also serves Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties. Here are the courts that operate here and what they handle:
- District Court — criminal cases involving felonies, civil claims over $10,000, divorce cases, child custody, adoptions, and other family matters. Appeals from the Magistrate Court also come here. Information about the First Judicial District is available on its official website.
- Magistrate Court — handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims up to $10,000, and issues search and arrest warrants.
- Municipal Court (City of Santa Fe) — violations of city ordinances, parking fines, certain categories of traffic violations within the city. Details are on the municipal court page.
- Probate Court — operates at the County Clerk's office and handles uncontested probate matters, appointment of executors, and guardianship.
If you are unsure which court your case belongs to, start by searching through the Case Lookup system on the New Mexico courts portal — it covers district, magistrate, and municipal courts.
Santa Fe Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The hearing schedule of the First Judicial District is published on the court's website. To find out the date and time of a specific hearing:
- Go to the First Judicial District Court website and find the "Court Hearing Schedules" section.
- Select a judge or case type — the schedule is usually updated weekly.
- For magistrate and municipal courts, check the schedule directly through Odyssey Public Access, choosing the appropriate location.
Specific hearing dates are also displayed in the case card when searching through Case Lookup. If you need to clarify the schedule for today or tomorrow, call the court clerk's office directly — phone numbers are listed on the county's website.
How to Get a Copy of a Santa Fe Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types: uncertified and certified. A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature, confirming the document's authenticity.
Online
Through the Public Access and re:SearchNM portal, you can view and print uncertified copies of many court documents. Registration is not required for basic case searches.
In Person or by Mail
To obtain a certified copy, contact the First Judicial District Court Clerk's Office:
Mail requests can also be sent through the public records page of the First Judicial District or through the IPRA (Inspect Public Records Request) system.
When contacting, specify:
- Full name of the party in the case
- Case number (if known)
- Type of document needed
- Whether a certified copy is needed
Probate case records are maintained by the County Clerk's office. To access them online, use ClerkTrack Web — log in with the username PROBATE to view probate records.
Some records have restricted access. Cases involving minors, adoptions, and sealed court orders are not issued without special court permission.
Santa Fe Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents in New Mexico are set by the rules of the State Supreme Court. Below are typical rates for courts of general jurisdiction:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Uncertified copy (per page) | $0.50 |
| Document certification | $1.50 per document |
| Court record search (by name) | Free through the online portal |
| Copy of hearing audio recording | Depends on the format; check with the clerk's office |
Payment is accepted at the court clerk's office in person. For mail requests, a money order is usually required, made payable to the First Judicial District Court. Exact payment terms should be clarified in advance by phone, as the court may not accept personal checks.
County Clerk records (real estate deeds, wills, etc.) have a separate fee schedule according to the New Mexico Recording Act. Details are published on the public records access page of the county clerk's office.