Estate Planning for Los Alamos, New Mexico Property Owners

For most Los Alamos County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Los Alamos County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Los Alamos County Probate Court. The two tools that keep a Los Alamos County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the Los Alamos County Probate Court decides who receives the property: a simple New Mexico probate takes 4+ months and opens with $30 in court filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Los Alamos County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Los Alamos County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a New Mexico transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentNMSA 45-6-401 to 45-6-417Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathNMSA 45-6-401 to 45-6-417Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a New MexicoTOD deed →Los Alamos Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Los Alamos County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Michael D. Redondo, at 1000 Central Avenue, Suite 240, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Phone: 505-662-8010. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (documents received after 4:30 PM are processed the next business day).

The County Clerk charges $25 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $25 to record in Los Alamos County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Los Alamos County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Los Alamos County · County Clerk · Michael D. Redondo

Address

1000 Central Avenue, Suite 240Los Alamos, NM 87544

Fax

505-662-8008

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (documents received after 4:30 PM are processed the next business day)

E-recording

Available via Simplifile
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$25
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

NMSA 14-8-15

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Los Alamos County

Solo PracticeLos Alamos, NM

Los Alamos Estate Law, LLC

Since 1992

Shay Burns Kendricks serves Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties from Los Alamos, continuing the estate practice of Miles & Kendricks under the Los Alamos Estate Law name. Handles wills, revocable and living trusts, advance health care directives, durable powers of attorney, transfer on death deeds, and probate. A member of the New Mexico bar since 1998.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningBusiness Planningand 3 more

Office
PO Box 38Los Alamos, NM 87544

FirmSanta Fe, NM

Catron, Catron & Glassman, P.A.

Since 1866

Serves Santa Fe County and northern New Mexico from Santa Fe. Handles estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate. Founded in 1866, it is the oldest law firm in New Mexico, and Fletcher R. Catron is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills

Office
2006 Botulph RdSanta Fe, NM 87505

Solo PracticeTaos, NM

DeStefano Law Firm, P.C.

Richard De Stefano has been practicing law for over 40 years, the first half in Beverly Hills, California, and since 1995 in Taos, New Mexico. The firm handles wills, living trusts, insurance trusts, charitable trusts, asset protection, probate and non-probate administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness PlanningReal Estateand 2 more

Office
411 Camino de la PlacitaTaos, NM 87571

Solo PracticeTaos, NM

Emery Law Firm, P.C.

Since 1987

Founded by Kelan Emery in 1987, the firm serves clients in northern New Mexico in wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, estate administration, and business entity formation. One of the longest-established estate planning practices in Taos County.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateBusiness Planningand 2 more

Office
309 Salazar RdTaos, NM 87571

Solo PracticeSanta Fe, NM

Fitz Gibbon Law, LLC

Serves Santa Fe County families from a Santa Fe office. Handles wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration, including planning for minor children and beneficiaries with special needs, alongside a separate art and cultural-heritage law practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipTrustsWills

Office
460 Saint Michaels Dr, Suite 1203Santa Fe, NM 87505

FirmSanta Fe, NM

Horton Mullins PC

Serves Santa Fe County and north-central New Mexico from Santa Fe, with a second office in Albuquerque. Handles estate planning, trust administration and probate, plus adult guardianship and conservatorship and special-needs planning for families managing an incapacitated relative.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
2006 Botulph RdSanta Fe, NM 87505
See all 19 firms serving Los Alamos County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

Data sourced from New Mexico statutes and official state code. How we research.

New Mexico Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for New Mexico.