Lovato Law is an estate planning and elder law firm specializing in wills, trusts, Medicaid planning, probate, and trust administration, serving the Albuquerque area from their Rio Rancho location.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Sandoval County, New Mexico
How probate works in Sandoval County: the Sandoval County Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Sandoval County Probate Court
Sandoval County · 13th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-noon
Office
1500 Idalia Road, Building D, Bernalillo, NM 87004
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe probate court publishes its own packets for an estate with a will, without a will, an ancillary proof of authority and a special administrator. A printed will or no-will packet with instructions costs $5.00 at the counter (cash or check), or by mail with postage paid in advance. Staff give general instructions on which forms to file but do not help fill them out or give legal advice.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order.The court takes cash in the exact amount, checks, cashier's and certified checks, and money orders; checks are payable to Sandoval County Probate Court. Fees are not refundable, and no payment is taken after 4:00 PM.
County forms
- Intestate Forms Packet (No Will)The probate court's packet to open an informal probate when there is no will.
- Testate Forms Packet (With Will)The probate court's packet to open an informal probate of a will.
- Proof of Authority Forms Packet (Ancillary Probate)The forms to file a personal representative's proof of authority from another state.
- Special Administrator Forms PacketThe forms to apply for informal appointment of a special administrator.
P.O. Box 40
Bernalillo, NM 87004
Fax
1-505-867-6699
Departments
- Clerkamromero@sandovalcountynm.gov
About the court
- The probate court hears informal, uncontested matters: estates, wills and the appointment of special administrators. Contested or formal probate, guardianships, and conservatorships are handled by the Thirteenth Judicial District Court, 1500 Idalia Road, Building A, Bernalillo NM 87004 (505-867-2376).
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Sandoval County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Sandoval County, probate runs through the Sandoval County Probate Court at 1500 Idalia Road, Building D, Bernalillo. The court sits in the 13th Judicial District. The same 13th Judicial District also serves Cibola and Valencia.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under New Mexico intestacy law when there is no will.
Most New Mexico estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsNMSA §§ 45-3-801, 45-3-803, 45-3-806, 45-3-1006Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Sandoval County
What probate costs in Sandoval County, New Mexico comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Sandoval County Probate Court at 1500 Idalia Road, Building D, Bernalillo. The court is part of the 13th Judicial District.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: An informal probate application, a proof of authority and a special administrator application each cost $30.00. Copies are $1.00 a page and certification is $1.00 a document.
New Mexico charges $30NMSA 1978, §§ 34-7-14, 34-7-10(B) (Laws 2023, ch. 44, §§ 11, 8), 45-1-302(C), 34-6-40, 34-6-44, 34-6-45; NM AOC self-representation probate guide; NM judicial district fee schedulesVerified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New Mexico are negotiated, 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
New Mexico allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payNMSA § 45-3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 45-3-721 (court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Probate in New Mexico typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Sandoval County Probate Court
Probate cases in Sandoval County are filed at the Sandoval County Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 13th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Clerk.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Sandoval County Self-Filing Assessment.
Sandoval County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Other Requirements
Probate Court staff do not give legal advice, fill out forms, prepare deeds, decide how assets are distributed, explain court orders, or decide when to close a case.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Sandoval County Probate Court: Death certificate (original) — presented to the probate judge at filing so the date of death can be confirmed, then returned to the personal representative; county intake practice, not a statutory, rule, or form requirement; Original will and any codicils (attached to the 4B-302 application when testate); Acceptance of appointment as personal representative (Form 4B-305), signed and affirmed under penalty of perjury (NMSA 1978, §§ 45-3-307, 45-3-601); Order for informal probate / appointment for the probate judge to sign (Form 4B-304 will / 4B-303 no will)NMSA 1978, §§ 45-3-301 (informal application), 45-3-103 & 45-3-601 (issuance of letters), 45-3-203 (priority), 45-3-715 (powers), 45-3-108 (three-year limit); 45-3-402 (formal probate)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Sandoval County
In Sandoval County certified copies of the death certificate come from New Mexico Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
New Mexico Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Records
Sandoval County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Office
2554 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Website
Certified copies
From New Mexico Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Records
New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $5 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
State Medical Examiner
Sandoval County · Office of the Medical Investigator
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1101 Camino de Salud Northeast, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Website
Serves this county
Office of the Medical Investigator
Release of remains
1-505-272-1361 · Decedent Affairs Unit
Mail and offices
MSC07 4040
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Sandoval County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Sandoval County are recorded with the County Clerk at 1500 Idalia Road, Building D, 1st Floor, Bernalillo, NM 87004. Phone: 1-505-867-7572. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM; Wednesday 9:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 40, Bernalillo, NM 87004.
The County Clerk charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Sandoval County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Sandoval County
Phone
Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM; Wednesday 9:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
1500 Idalia Road, Building D, 1st Floor, Bernalillo, NM 87004
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile
P.O. Box 40
Bernalillo, NM 87004
Fax
1-505-771-8610
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $25 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
NMSA 14-8-15
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Sandoval County
New Mexico allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Sandoval County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in New Mexico are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Sandoval County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Sandoval County Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Bruce J. Puma Jr. established Albuquerque Legal & Fiduciary in 2015. As both an attorney and a CPA, he has an extensive background in accounting and law, providing estate planning and fiduciary services.
Serves Bernalillo County families from downtown Albuquerque. Handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and trust litigation, alongside the tax questions that surface when an estate is settled. Gerald E. Bischoff has practiced in Albuquerque since 1977.
Tom Brown began the practice of law in 1986 and has throughout his 32+ year career focused on legal matters related to trusts and estates, wills, estate planning, probate and trust administration.
A second-generation Albuquerque firm serving Bernalillo County and the surrounding metro. Handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and the tax questions that come with them, with a practice concentrated in trusts and estates for more than 46 years.
Albuquerque firm serving Bernalillo County and clients across New Mexico since 1959. Its commercial section handles wills, estate planning, and probate, backed by a large civil-litigation bench when an estate turns contested.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- NMSA § 45-3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 45-3-721 (court review of reasonableness)
- NMSA §§ 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)
- NMSA §§ 45-3-801, 45-3-803, 45-3-806, 45-3-1006
- NMSA 1978, §§ 34-7-14, 34-7-10(B) (Laws 2023, ch. 44, §§ 11, 8), 45-1-302(C), 34-6-40, 34-6-44, 34-6-45; NM AOC self-representation probate guide; NM judicial district fee schedules
- NMSA 1978, §§ 45-3-301 (informal application), 45-3-103 & 45-3-601 (issuance of letters), 45-3-203 (priority), 45-3-715 (powers), 45-3-108 (three-year limit); 45-3-402 (formal probate)
- NMSA 14-8-15
- Sandoval County Probate Court, official page
- Sandoval County Clerk, official page
- Sandoval County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from New Mexico statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in New Mexico
Free tools for settling an estate in New Mexico: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in New Mexico happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeNMSA 1978 § 46A-1-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysNMSA § 46A-8-813; § 46A-10-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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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