Established in 1973, Lopez, Dietzel & Perkins serves Grant County and surrounding southwest New Mexico communities from Silver City. A general practice firm covering estate planning, probate, real estate, and business matters.
Probate in Doña Ana County
Probate Court Record
Doña Ana County Probate Court
Doña Ana County · 3rd Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Office
845 North Motel Boulevard, Room 1-201, Las Cruces, NM 88007
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Doña Ana County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Doña Ana County? →Settling an estate in Doña Ana County →
Elder Law Firms Serving Doña Ana County
An El Paso elder law and estate planning firm with a staffed New Mexico office in Truth or Consequences, serving Sierra County, Las Cruces and southern New Mexico. Handles probate administration, Medicaid planning, asset protection, and trusts under both Texas and New Mexico law. Offers a free consultation.
Serves Albuquerque and Santa Fe from offices in both cities, reaching clients statewide. Handles wills and trusts, probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and fiduciary litigation. A women-owned, women-led firm.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in New Mexico
Free New Mexico forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for New Mexico.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
Healthcare Power of Attorney
New Mexico requires neither witnesses nor a notaryNMSA 1978 § 24-7A-4Verified Oct 15, 2026View source for a healthcare power of attorney.
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Free
Financial Power of Attorney
New Mexico treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultNMSA §§ 45-5B-101 through 45-5B-403 (HB0231, Laws 2007, ch. 135; recompiled by Laws 2011, ch. 124)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementNMSA §§ 45-5B-101 through 45-5B-403 (HB0231, Laws 2007, ch. 135; recompiled by Laws 2011, ch. 124)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.
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Free
Last Will and Testament
In New Mexico, a will is signed before 2NMSA § 45-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyNMSA § 45-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in New Mexico
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in New Mexico: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for New Mexico.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in New Mexico runs $3,510Estimate: 10 hours at $351, Clio's New Mexico Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,265Estimate: 15 hours at $351, Clio's New Mexico Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $963Estimate: 3 hours at $321, Clio's New Mexico Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,926Estimate: 6 hours at $321, Clio's New Mexico Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Calculate Costs
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In New Mexico, four years at a public university cost about $71,976NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 8% below the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNMSA 1978 §§ 7-7-3(A), 7-7-2(D) (Estate Tax Act — pick-up tax equal to the IRC § 2011 federal credit, $0 since 1/1/2005)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Amount
What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in New Mexico costs an estimated $24,985NMSA § 45-3-715(A)(21) (PR may employ attorneys); § 45-3-721 (court review of the compensation); § 45-3-720 (estate litigation expenses, incl. attorneys fees); no statutory percentageVerified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under NMSA § 45-3-715(A)(21) (PR may employ attorneys); § 45-3-721 (court review of the compensation); § 45-3-720 (estate litigation expenses, incl. attorneys fees); no statutory percentage: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under NMSA § 45-3-715(A)(21) (PR may employ attorneys); § 45-3-721 (court review of the compensation); § 45-3-720 (estate litigation expenses, incl. attorneys fees); no statutory percentage: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $50,000§ 45-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in New Mexico takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under NMSA § 45-3-715(A)(21) (PR may employ attorneys); § 45-3-721 (court review of the compensation); § 45-3-720 (estate litigation expenses, incl. attorneys fees); no statutory percentage: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under NMSA § 45-3-715(A)(21) (PR may employ attorneys); § 45-3-721 (court review of the compensation); § 45-3-720 (estate litigation expenses, incl. attorneys fees); no statutory percentage: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
New Mexico automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceNMSA § 45-2-804Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
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