Serves Doña Ana County and southern New Mexico from Las Cruces. Focuses on elder law and estate planning — Medicaid planning, guardianships and conservatorships, probate, and trust administration — after 30 years in practice. Michele Ungvarsky is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Probate in Grant County
Probate Court Record
Grant County Probate Court
Grant County · 6th Judicial District
Phone
Office
1400 Highway 180 East, Silver City, NM 88061
Website
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Grant County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Grant County? →Settling an estate in Grant County →
Guardianship Firms Serving Grant County
Cristy J. Carbon-Gaul leads a firm focused exclusively on estate planning and related matters with over 20 years of experience. The firm serves clients throughout New Mexico, from Albuquerque to Las Cruces.
Serves Albuquerque and Santa Fe from offices in both cities, appearing in probate courts statewide. Handles contested and uncontested probate, representing personal representatives, heirs, creditors, and other interested persons in estate and trust disputes. Contested probate litigation is the firm's stated focus, and it offers a free 30-minute 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.
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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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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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.
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.
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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.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
New Mexico is a community property state, so the surviving spouse already owns half of what the couple acquired during the marriage. Without a will in New Mexico, descendants divide what passes to them per capita at each generationNMSA § 45-2-106Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 120 hoursNMSA § 45-2-104(A)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source to inherit.
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