Serves Luna, Grant, and Sierra counties from Deming. Handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and the real-estate transfers that follow a death, alongside business matters.
Probate in Otero County
Probate Court Record
Otero County Probate Court
Otero County · 12th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Thursday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1104 North White Sands Boulevard, Suite C, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Otero County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Otero County? →Settling an estate in Otero County →
Estate Law Firms Serving Otero County
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dana M. Kyle has over 30 years' experience in estate planning, business, and real estate law, serving southern New Mexico for over 20 years. The firm has earned the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
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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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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Free
Pour-Over Will
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.
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Free
Transfer on Death Deed
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.
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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.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
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.
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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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How Much Does Probate Cost?
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.
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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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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in New Mexico: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysNMSA § 45-3-706Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsNMSA §§ 45-3-801, 45-3-803, 45-3-806, 45-3-1006Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
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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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