Court records of Sandoval County, New Mexico, can be accessed through several channels. SandovalCourt.us allows for quick viewing of public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records are available through the official online portals of the state's judicial system, court clerks' offices, and public terminals directly in court buildings. Below is a description of the courts operating in the county, how to view hearing schedules, and how to obtain copies of court documents.
Sandoval Court System & Jurisdictions
Several judicial instances operate in Sandoval County, each handling specific categories of cases. They all belong to the Thirteenth Judicial District of New Mexico.
Sandoval County District Court is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles serious criminal cases (felonies), civil lawsuits over $10,000, family cases (divorce, custody, alimony), probate matters, and appeals from the magistrate court. Detailed information about this court is available on the Sandoval County District Court page.
Sandoval County Magistrate Court handles:
- Misdemeanors (less serious criminal offenses)
- Traffic violations
- Civil lawsuits up to $10,000
- Small claims cases up to $10,000
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
Divorce information can be obtained from the Thirteenth Judicial District Court or the county clerk's office. Vital records — birth, death, marriage certificates — are maintained by the County Clerk.
Sandoval Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out what hearings are scheduled for today, tomorrow, or this week, use the official schedules of the Thirteenth Judicial District.
- District Court: the schedule is published on the Sandoval County District Court Docket page. It includes the date, time, judge's name, and case number.
- Magistrate Court: a similar schedule is available on the Sandoval County Magistrate Court Docket page.
- Search by case number or party name: the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup portal allows you to find a case in any state court, including the county district and magistrate courts.
If you need access to case documents, registered users can use the re:SearchNM system, which provides extended access to case materials in electronic form.
Public terminals for viewing schedules and case materials are also installed directly in the District Court building in Bernalillo.
How to Get a Copy of a Sandoval Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types: regular (uncertified) and certified. A certified copy contains the court's seal and the clerk's signature — it is required for most official purposes: filing in another court, immigration cases, confirming the status of a case.
Ways to obtain copies:
- In person — visit the Clerk's Office in the District Court building in Bernalillo. You will need the case number or the full name of the party and the approximate filing date.
- By mail — send a written request specifying the case number, document type, and a check or money order to the court's address.
- Online — through the Odyssey Public Access portal, you can view basic case information for free. Registration in re:SearchNM is usually required to download documents.
Sandoval County District Court (Thirteenth Judicial District):
Some records have restricted access — including juvenile cases, sealed cases, and certain family cases. When requesting a document, check with the clerk if it is publicly accessible.
To obtain public records of the county itself (not court records), you can submit a request under the Inspection of Public Records Act through the Records Request page on the county's website.
Sandoval Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents in New Mexico are set according to the administrative rules of the state's judicial system. Below are the approximate rates applicable in the courts of the Thirteenth District. Confirm the exact amount with the court clerk before making a request.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular document copy (per page) | $0.35–$0.50 |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $1.50 per document |
| Registry search by name | Free through Odyssey Public Access; a fee may be charged for a written search by the clerk |
| Case viewing on a public terminal | Free |
Acceptable payment methods usually include money orders, cashier's checks, and, in some cases, personal checks. Not all clerk's offices accept cash and credit cards — verify in advance by phone.
Viewing case information through Case Lookup or SandovalCourt.us does not require payment. Fees are charged only for producing physical or certified copies.