How to Get Certified Copies of Your Divorce Decree in New Mexico

Every post-divorce agency update — Social Security, the MVD, banks, pension administrators, mortgage lenders — requires a certified copy of your divorce decree with the physical court seal. Photocopies and attorney copies will not work. Plan on ordering at least five certified copies before you start updating anything.

Where to Request Copies

Your divorce decree is held by the district court clerk in the county where your divorce was filed — not the New Mexico Vital Records Office, which handles birth and death certificates. If your divorce was filed in Bernalillo County, you request copies from the Second Judicial District Court clerk. If it was filed in Santa Fe County, you go to the First Judicial District Court clerk.

In-Person Requests

Visit the courthouse clerk's office during business hours. You will need:

• Your full legal name and your ex-spouse's full legal name
• The case number (found on any court filing from your divorce)
• A government-issued photo ID

Copies are typically available same-day. Fees vary slightly by county but generally run $1.00 to $3.00 per page plus $1.50 per certification seal.

Mail-In Requests

Most district courts accept mail-in requests. For the Second Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County), submit a written request including:

• Full names of both parties
• Case number
• Year the divorce was filed
• A self-addressed stamped envelope (2 oz postage)
• A money order or cashier's check payable to "Clerk of Court" for the copy fees

Credit and debit cards are generally not accepted for mail-in requests. Processing takes one to three weeks depending on the court's backlog.

Some courts, including the Second Judicial District, also offer an online records request form through their website. The Ninth Judicial District (Curry, Roosevelt counties) routes requests through a dedicated Records Custodian.

County Fee Variations

New Mexico does not have a single statewide fee schedule for certified copies. Each county clerk sets their own rates within the general statutory framework:

• Bernalillo County: $1.00 per page plus $2.00 per document certification fee
• Santa Fe County: Similar per-page rates; personal checks may not be accepted (cash, cashier's checks, and money orders only)
• Smaller judicial districts: Some charge flat fees per document rather than per-page rates

Call the clerk's office before visiting to confirm current fees and accepted payment methods.

How Many Copies Do You Need?

At minimum, order five certified copies. Here is where they go:

1. Social Security Administration — for name change processing
2. NM Motor Vehicle Division — for driver's license update
3. Your bank or credit union — for closing joint accounts
4. Retirement plan administrator — for initiating QDRO or DRO processing
5. Your personal records — keep one copy in a safe place

If you are also updating your passport, transferring real property, and dividing multiple retirement accounts, you may need seven or more copies. It is cheaper to order extras now than to request them later.

The New Mexico Post-Divorce Checklist includes a document inventory tracker that maps exactly which certified copy goes to each agency, so you know how many to order before you start.

See more New Mexico guides →