Probate in Lincoln County

Probate Court Record

Lincoln County Probate Court

Lincoln County · 12th Judicial District

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

310 11th Street, Carrizozo, NM 88301

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Lincoln County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Lincoln County? →Settling an estate in Lincoln County →

Probate Firms Serving Lincoln County

Eric D. Dixon, Attorney and Counselor at Law, P.A.

301 S Avenue A, Portales, NM 88130

Eric D. Dixon has practiced law since approximately 1989 and serves Roosevelt County and eastern New Mexico from Portales. Licensed in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado, he has taught business law and real estate law at Eastern New Mexico University. Former Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce President.

Solo PracticeEstate PlanningProbateBusiness PlanningReal Estate

Scotty A. Holloman serves Lea County from Hobbs, continuing the estate practice of Maddox, Holloman & Kirksey as a solo firm. His State Bar profile declares estate planning, taxation, probate and wills alongside business and natural-resources work — the oil-and-gas pairing common to Permian Basin estates. He is also licensed in Texas, which covers estates straddling the state line.

Solo PracticeEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningBusiness PlanningWills

Serves Roswell, Chaves County, and southeastern New Mexico. Handles probate, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, trusts, and will contests, alongside family law and business matters. Founded in 1998; Rick Kraft is a past president of the State Bar of New Mexico.

Solo PracticeSince 1998Estate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationBusiness PlanningFamily Law+4

Serves Eddy County and southeastern New Mexico from Carlsbad, and clients across the Texas line. Wills, trusts, estates and probate is a named practice area with two attorneys assigned to it, alongside guardianship and conservatorship work. The firm has practiced in Carlsbad for over 50 years.

Estate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipTrustsWills

All 19 New Mexico probate firms serving Lincoln County →

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.

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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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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 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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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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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

New Mexico pays executors reasonable compensationNMSA § 45-3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 45-3-721 (court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.

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Do I Need Probate?

In New Mexico, estates valued at $50,000§ 45-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit§ 45-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 days§ 45-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In New Mexico, creditors have 4 monthsNMSA § 45-3-801 (four months from first publication; sixty days from mailed notice, whichever is later); § 45-3-803 (claims barred at the earlier of one year after death or the § 45-3-801 periods)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.

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Can I Self-File Probate?

New Mexico has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableNMSA §§ 45-3-301, 45-3-302, 45-3-307 (application to the probate or district court; written statement of informal probate and informal appointment without hearing)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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