Free New Mexico forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
New Mexico requires neither witnesses nor a notaryNMSA 1978 § 24-7A-4Verified Oct 15, 2026View source for a healthcare 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.
In New Mexico, a pour-over will is signed before 2NMSA § 45-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
In New Mexico, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryNMSA 45-6-401 to 45-6-417Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathNMSA 45-6-401 to 45-6-417Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in New Mexico: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In New Mexico, a will-based plan pays probate 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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.
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.
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. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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.
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.
53 estate planning firms in New Mexico, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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53 firms
FirmLas Cruces, NM
Serves southern New Mexico from Las Cruces, with offices in Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences. Handles wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate and estate administration for executors and personal representatives. Spanish-language service, with a stated focus on Hispanic and multigenerational families.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmAlbuquerque, NM
Serves Albuquerque and Santa Fe from offices in both cities, reaching clients statewide. Handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, and contested trust and estate litigation. One of New Mexico's largest and longest-established firms, founded in 1883.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmAlbuquerque, NM
A boutique estate practice serving Bernalillo County from Albuquerque. Handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and Medicaid planning, including multi-state and nonresident decedent estates. Offers home visits for clients who cannot travel to the office.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more
Solo PracticeAlamogordo, NM
S. Bert Atkins Law Office is located in Alamogordo and specializes in estate planning, business law, and family law. The firm assists with preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other advance directives, and helps identify ways to avoid probate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness PlanningPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
FirmRoswell, NM
Serves Chaves County and southeastern New Mexico from Roswell. Handles estate planning, probate, wills and trusts, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate tax matters, including will contests and trust litigation. Founded by Truman Sanders in 1945 and practicing in southeastern New Mexico ever since.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningConservatorshipand 3 more
FirmSanta Fe, NM
Serves Santa Fe County and northern New Mexico from downtown Santa Fe. Handles estate planning from simple wills through layered trusts, plus probate and guardianship administration. Practicing in Santa Fe for over 30 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipTrustsWills
Solo PracticeLas Cruces, NM
Serves Las Cruces and southern New Mexico with wills, trusts, probate, and trust administration. Founded in 2020 by Jessica Streeter, a former Third Judicial District Court judge and Las Cruces municipal judge. A free 15-minute case review precedes the paid initial consultation, whose fee is credited toward the work.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrustsWills
Solo PracticeFarmington, NM
Patricia Simpson has been in practice for over three decades and actively involved in the Farmington community since 1998. The firm handles estate planning, probate proceedings, guardianship/conservatorship proceedings, and elder law planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 4 more
FirmSanta Fe, NM
Serves Santa Fe County and northern New Mexico from Santa Fe. Handles estate planning, probate, and the tax and business questions that surface when an estate holds a family company or ranch property. Founded in 1953.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningBusiness Planning
FirmEl Paso, TX
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid Planningand 2 more
Solo PracticeSanta Fe, NM
Serves Santa Fe County and northern New Mexico from Santa Fe. Handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, and contested probate and trust litigation. Offers free consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation
Solo PracticeFarmington, NM
A Farmington solo practice led by J. Nicci Unsicker, focused on transparent flat-fee estate planning for Northwest New Mexico, Colorado, and tribal-nation clients. The firm handles wills and trusts that involve tribal and allotment assets for Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache members alongside standard New Mexico estates.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 4 more
FirmAlbuquerque, NM
Walk-In Wills is an estate-planning firm founded in Albuquerque in 2003 by attorney Simon A. Kubiak. The firm offers flat-fee pricing and free initial consultations, with offices in Albuquerque and Santa Fe in New Mexico plus Chandler and Mesa in Arizona.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateMedicaid PlanningBusiness Planningand 7 more