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New Mexico · Thirteenth Judicial District of New Mexico

Sandoval County Probate Court (informal) or District Court (formal) Guide

Settled Estate records a $30-$132 court filing fee and a 4-month creditor claim period for the Sandoval County Probate Court, read from 8 linked sources and last verified June 22, 2026.

By Settled Estate Editorial Team

Probate Court (informal) or District Court (formal) information · Updated June 2026

Settling an estate while grieving is hard. This page takes it one step at a time, and free local help is listed below.

$30-$132
Court filing fee
4 months
Creditor claims, from notice
505-867-7645
Filing office phone
Unofficial guide · Verified June 2026 · Sandoval County Probate CourtSources (8)

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Not sure if you need probate?

Many estates can avoid probate entirely. Assets with beneficiary designations, joint accounts, and trust assets may pass automatically without court involvement.

Immediate Actions

The first days

First: Get Death Certificates

Required for everything

New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics

Certified New Mexico death certificates are issued by the state Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics ($5.00 per copy), orderable online, by mail, or in person in Santa Fe and at some regional vital records offices. Sandoval County families order through the state office; the county Probate Court and County Clerk do not issue death certificates. Only a person with a direct and tangible interest (such as a surviving spouse, parent, child, or the personal representative) may obtain a certified copy.

How to order

Secure the Property

  • Lock the residence and secure valuable items
  • Forward mail to a responsible family member
  • Make a list of what you find (don't throw anything away yet)

Locate Important Documents

Will or trust documents
Property deeds
Bank/investment statements
Insurance policies
Vehicle titles
Tax returns (last 3 years)

Required by Law

Legal duties

Deposit the Will

A person who has custody of a will must deliver it after the testator's death (NMSA 45-2-516). New Mexico does not set a fixed numeric day count for this duty; the will is offered for probate before the county Probate Court (informal) or the District Court (formal). Informal probate may not occur until at least 120 hours (five days) after death (NMSA 45-3-302). Verify the custodian's obligations and timing with the court. (NMSA 1978, Section 45-2-516)

Cost: Verify locally
Where: Sandoval County Probate Court
Clerk Website

Creditor claim window

Creditors generally have 4 months from first publication of notice to creditors to bring claims against the estate. (NMSA § 45-3-801)

Notify Key Parties

  • Banks and credit card companies (to prevent unauthorized use)
  • Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213)
  • Employer (if applicable) for final paycheck and benefits

Assess Your Situation

Before filing anything

Which probate type is right for you?

1

Small estate? If the estate is worth less than the New Mexico small-estate limit (shown on the options below), you may qualify for simplified procedures.

2

Is there a valid will? If yes, you'll file for probate with will. If no will exists, it's intestate probate.

3

Complex assets? Business interests, real estate in multiple states, or contested claims may require probate administration.

Select a probate type below to see specific requirements and costs.

Which applies to your situation?

Not sure? Use the free checker at the top of this page - you don't have to decide this alone.

New Mexico's small estate procedure lets a successor collect personal property by affidavit when the value of the entire estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $50,000, at least 30 days have passed since death, and no personal representative has been appointed or has an application pending. The affidavit cannot be used to transfer real estate title (NMSA 45-3-1201). The limit is keyed to the decedent's date of death. Verify eligibility for the specific assets and institutions involved.

Qualifies:
$50,000
Filing fee:
$30

New Mexico has no fixed-dollar 'summary administration.' Instead, NMSA 45-3-1203 lets a personal representative immediately distribute and close a small estate without notice to creditors when the inventory shows the estate (less liens/encumbrances) does not exceed the family and personal-property allowances, administration costs, last-illness expenses, and reasonable funeral expenses. Separately, a community-property homestead may pass to a surviving spouse by recorded affidavit six months after death without probate (NMSA 45-3-1205). Availability depends on the facts; verify locally.

Qualifies:
Smaller estates that meet the state limit

Documents you'll need:

  • Certified Death Certificate
  • Small Estate Affidavit (Collection of Personal Property)
  • Affidavit of Title Transfer of Community-Property Homestead

A personal representative is appointed - informally before the county Probate Court (uncontested) or formally in the District Court - then prepares an inventory and appraisement within three months of appointment (NMSA 45-3-706), may publish notice to creditors, pays claims and taxes, and distributes the estate. Informal administration is unsupervised; formal/supervised administration is overseen by the District Court. Verify bond, surety, original-will, and notice requirements with the court.

Attorney:
not required by law, though many families use one

Documents you'll need:

  • Certified Death Certificate
  • Original Will
  • Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative
  • Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration
  • Notice to Creditors (publication)
  • Inventory and Appraisement
  • Closing Statement

New Mexico's small estate procedure allows a successor to collect personal property by affidavit when the value of the entire estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $50,000, at least 30 days have passed since death, and no application or petition for appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted. The affidavit may not be used to perfect title to real estate (NMSA 45-3-1201).

Qualifies:
$50,000

Documents you'll need:

  • Certified Death Certificate
  • Small Estate Affidavit (Collection of Personal Property)

File for Probate

Where to file, forms & fees

Where to File

Office: Sandoval County Probate Court
Address: 1500 Idalia Rd., Bldg. D, Bernalillo, NM 87004 (PO Box 40, Bernalillo, NM 87004)
Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (closed 12-1 p.m. for lunch)
How: in person, by mail, by appointment
Get Forms

Free Filing Help Available

Sandoval County Probate Court can help you understand forms and filing requirements at no cost.

Visit Self-Help Center

Other Topics That May Apply

Property & Real Estate

Property transfer after death, recording

Sandoval County Clerk

Website

Vehicle Title Transfer

Retitle or transfer the deceased's vehicle. Office, forms, fees.

New Mexico MVD - Albuquerque Field Office (nearest; no Bernalillo/Rio Rancho MVD office confirmed)

Hours:
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Office Website

Sandoval County residents (Bernalillo, Rio Rancho area) are served by the Albuquerque MVD field office. Belen (Valencia County) may also be convenient for southern Sandoval County.

When a New Mexico vehicle owner dies, the title is transferred at an MVD field office. New Mexico provides three main after-death title transfer paths: (1) Section G – Transfer Without Probate for a legal heir or surviving spouse when the entire estate does not exceed $50,000; (2) Section F – Claiming Successor affidavit for any person when the estate does not exceed $50,000; and (3) Section E – Personal Representative transfer through court-appointed probate. All transfers require waiting at least 30 days after the date of death. The Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (4%) is generally exempt for beneficiaries who inherit by will or intestacy.

Transfer scenarios

Transfer Without Probate — Legal Heir or Surviving Spouse (Section G)

Documents needed:

  • Notarized Certificate of Transfer Without Probate (Form MVD-10011)
  • Certified death certificate
  • Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form MVD-10187) — if vehicle is 10 model years old or newer
  • Original title, if available

At least 30 days after the date of death, the legal heir or surviving spouse presents the completed and notarized MVD-10011, the certified death certificate, and the odometer statement at an MVD field office. The Motor Vehicle Excise Tax is generally exempt for heirs receiving by will or intestacy.

Claiming Successor Affidavit (Section F)

Documents needed:

  • Notarized Claiming Successor Affidavit (Form MVD-10013)
  • Certified death certificate
  • Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form MVD-10187) — if vehicle is 10 model years old or newer
  • Original title, if available

At least 30 days after the date of death, the claiming successor presents the completed and notarized MVD-10013, the certified death certificate, and the odometer statement at an MVD field office.

Probate — Court-Appointed Personal Representative (Section E)

Documents needed:

  • Original vehicle title signed by the personal representative as seller
  • Certified copy of the Order Appointing Personal Representative (or Letters of Administration)
  • Certified death certificate
  • Bill of Sale / Assignment (Form MVD-10009) signed by the personal representative
  • Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form MVD-10187) — if vehicle is 10 model years old or newer

Open probate in the New Mexico Probate Court (informal) or District Court (formal) of the county where the decedent was domiciled. Upon appointment, the personal representative presents the title, letters or Order of Appointment, MVD-10009, and death certificate at an MVD field office to transfer title to the estate's beneficiary.

Registration Valid After Death (Section D)

No immediate action required to keep registration valid. Transfer of title must still occur within 30 days of transfer to avoid the late-transfer penalty under §66-3-103(B) ($20.00).

Forms

  • Certificate of Transfer Without Probate(MVD-10011)(For legal heir or surviving spouse only (Section G). Compare with MVD-10013 (Claiming Successor) which is available to any successor.)
  • Claiming Successor Affidavit(MVD-10013)(Broader than MVD-10011 — available to any successor, not just legal heir or surviving spouse (Section F).)
  • Bill of Sale / Assignment(MVD-10009)(Required when transferring through a court-appointed personal representative.)
  • Odometer Disclosure Statement(MVD-10187)(Required for all vehicle transfers (small estate and probate) where the vehicle is fewer than 10 model years old.)
  • Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title(MVD-10901)(Used when the original title is unavailable. File at an MVD field office before or simultaneously with the estate title transfer.)

Fees

Penalty for failure to transfer title within 30 calendar days of vehicle transfer(NMSA 1978, § 66-3-103(B))$20.00
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET): 4% of the vehicle's sale price or value(NMSA 1978, § 7-14-4)4% of sale price

Small-estate vehicle transfer

New Mexico offers two small-estate vehicle transfer paths without probate when the entire estate does not exceed $50,000: (1) Transfer Without Probate (Form MVD-10011), available to a legal heir or surviving spouse; and (2) Claiming Successor affidavit (Form MVD-10013), available to any person claiming succession rights. Both require at least 30 days from the date of death and that no personal representative has been appointed. Documents are submitted directly to an MVD field office — no court filing is required for the vehicle transfer itself.

Threshold: $$50,000

Lost or duplicate title

File MVD-10901 at an MVD field office. The duplicate is issued and may then be used in the estate transfer (small-estate or probate path).

Form:

Helpful resources

  • mvd.newmexico.gov

    Official MVD procedure manual chapter covering all deceased-owner title transfer scenarios including small estate, claiming successor, and probate paths.

  • mvd.newmexico.gov

    Listing of all NM MVD field offices by city with hours information.

  • mvd.newmexico.gov

    Official index of all NM MVD forms including MVD-10011, MVD-10013, MVD-10009, MVD-10187, and MVD-10901.

  • mvd.newmexico.gov

    Official MVD fee schedule including vehicle title fees, late transfer penalty ($20 under §66-3-103(B)), and Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (4%).

Statewide forms and steps live in the vehicle title transfer guide. If the title cannot be found, see selling a car without a title.

Vehicle sources (4)

You've seen what probate involves. Here's how to spare your own family.

A few simple steps (naming beneficiaries, a transfer-on-death deed where your state allows it, or a living trust) can keep your estate out of court.

See how to avoid probate in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does probate cost in Sandoval County?
Probate filing fees in Sandoval County, New Mexico vary by the type of administration. The court filing fee shown on this page is $30-$132; confirm current amounts with the Probate Court (informal) or District Court (formal) before filing.
How long does probate take in Sandoval County?
Timelines depend on the probate procedure, the court, and whether notice or publication is required. Simplified procedures can range from a few weeks to several months, while full administration often takes 6-12 months or longer.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Sandoval County?
Attorney requirements depend on the type of administration and your specific situation. Consider talking with a probate attorney before filing or making legal decisions.

More New Mexico Resources

Explore the rest of the New Mexico probate hub.

Do I need probate?5 pages
For the executor5 pages
Money and taxes5 pages
Family and inheritance5 pages
Transfer assets5 pages
File and learn5 pages

Verified against Sandoval County Probate Court on June 22, 2026

Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in New Mexico can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.