Curry County, New Mexico Court Records
Under Rule 1-079(B)(1) of the New Mexico Rules Annotated (NMRA), Curry County court records include all or any part of a document, paper, exhibit, transcript, or other material filed or lodged with Curry County courts, including the register of actions and docket entries used by the courts to document the activity in a case. These courts include the district court, magistrate court, probate court, and municipal courts. The clerks of the Curry County District Court and the Curry County Magistrate Court (both part of the Ninth Judicial District) maintain most of the county's court records, which cover all cases heard in the county, including civil litigation, criminal proceedings, probate, family law and domestic relations matters, and traffic infractions.
In Curry County, court records are sometimes linked to other records maintained by other agencies, such as arrest and vital records. For example, the court record of a person's criminal trial can be more or less complementary to their arrest record.
Are Curry County Court Records Public?
Yes, Curry County court records are public. This is so under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), which not only broadly establishes the right to public access to records of governmental entities, including courts, in New Mexico but also enables it. Furthermore, court rules, such as Rule 1-079(A) of the NMRA, establish the presumption that court records are subject to public access unless sealed by order of the court or otherwise protected from disclosure by statute.
However, while most court records are public and accessible to individuals under IPRA and certain court rules (e.g., Rule 1-079(A) of the NMRA), some records may not be subject to disclosure if they are related to confidential or restricted matters, such as:
- Juvenile delinquency
- Adoption
- Guardianship proceedings under Chapter 45, Article 5, Part 3, NMSA 1978
- Conservatorship proceedings under Chapter 245, Article 5, Part 4, NMSA 1978
- Sealed cases
- Cases handled under the Adult Protective Services Act, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (Chapter 43, Article 1, NMSA 1978), and Section 24-1-15 NMSA 1978.
What Information is Available in Curry County Court Records?
The information in court records varies by case. However, the types typically available in Curry County court records include the following:
- Case party information such as names
- Case information, such as number, type, filing date, etcetera
- Transcripts generated during proceedings
- Docket sheets (or 'Register of Actions')
- Case filings and pleadings, such as complaints, claims, petitions, motions, and affidavits
- Filed exhibits
- Subpoenas
- Summonses
- Court orders and decrees
- Final judgments or sentences
Curry County Court Records Search
To search Curry County court records, interested persons can use online access, in-person access, or other methods, such as mail or phone requests. The best method depends on convenience, the type of record, and whether the requesting party is seeking to inspect or obtain a copy of the records.
Online Access
This method offers quick and remote access for individuals to inspect or look up court records. To access Curry County court records online, use the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup web app. The app provides access to court records from district and magistrate courts across New Mexico counties, including Curry County. It also provides access to records of the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, as well as historic criminal domestic violence and DWI convictions from New Mexico municipal courts from September 1, 1991, onward. The app offers searches by name, case number, and DWI. However, note that the app does not provide access to confidential records and limits municipal court data to DWI and criminal domestic violence convictions.
As an alternative to inspecting Curry County court records online via the case lookup web app, individuals can request these records through the online IPRA request form. However, the requested records will most likely be mailed to the requesting party's physical address.
In-Person Access
With this method, individuals can inspect or obtain copies of court case records in person at the court clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was heard. Depending on where the case was filed or handled, visit the Curry County District Court, the Curry County Magistrate Court, the Curry County Probate Court, or a municipal courthouse to inspect or request copies of the case records. Visitation hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Mail and Phone Requests
This method allows individuals to obtain court case records under IPRA via a phone call or a written request by mail, sent directly to the Curry County court that handled the case or to the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts (at the addresses below).
New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts
Attn: Records Custodian
202 East Marcy Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: (855) 268-7804
Curry County District Court
700 North Main Street, Suite 11
Clovis, NM 88101
Phone: 575-742-7500
Curry County Magistrate Court
221 Pile Street
Clovis, NM 88101
Phone: 575-762-3766
Note that per NMSA 1978, Section 14-2-8(D), "a written request to inspect or obtain public records must provide the name, address, and telephone number of the person seeking access to the records and shall identify the records sought with reasonable particularity." Also note that the time it takes to process requests may vary. Acceptable forms of payment for copies of records requested include cashier's checks, money orders, or approved company checks.
Fees for Court Records in Curry County
Public records are free to inspect under IPRA. However, by law, there are fees for copies of these records. Accordingly, the cost of obtaining court records in Curry County from the 9th Judicial District Court and the Magistrate Court is as follows:
|
Type/Medium |
Cost |
|---|---|
|
Tape/CD Duplication |
$4.00/Tape/CD |
|
Photocopies |
$0.35/Page |
|
Certification |
$1.50/each |
Curry County Courthouse Locations
There are a district court, a magistrate court, a probate court, and three (3) municipal courts in Curry County. Each court operates from a separate courthouse (listed below).
Curry County District Court (9th Judicial District)
700 N. Main St., Suite 11
Clovis, NM 88101
Phone: 575-742-7500
Fax: 575-763-5160
Curry County Magistrate Court (9th Judicial District)
221 Pile Street
Clovis, NM 88101
Phone: 575-762-3766
Fax: 575-769-1437
417 Gidding Street, Suite #130
Clovis, NM 88101
Phone: (575) 763-5591
Fax: (575) 763-4232
Clovis Municipal Court
217 West Fourth Street
P.O. Box 876,
Clovis, NM 88102
Phone: 575-769-7860
Melrose Municipal Court
105 East Avenue B
P.O. Box 235
Melrose, NM 88124
Phone: 575-253-4274
Texico Municipal Court
219 Griffin Street
P.O. Box 208
Texico, NM 88135
Phone: 575-482-3315
Criminal Records Access in Curry County
Rather than local courts, the New Mexico DPS Law Enforcement Records Bureau (LERB) is responsible for maintaining and providing access to statewide criminal records for Curry County residents. It charges a $15.00 processing fee per record check. Nevertheless, although Curry County courts do not handle statewide criminal history records, they maintain and provide access to criminal court case records for interested persons under the IPRA through in-person searches and the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup web app.
Curry County Probate Records
Curry County probate records are the official court case records maintained for probate matters handled in the county. These records include wills admitted to informal probate and documents related to estate cases, trusts, determination of heirs, and formal petitions to appoint guardians or conservators for incapacitated adults.
In Curry County, probate records are generally public under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), which provides that every person has the right to inspect public records maintained by the New Mexico Courts. However, under Rule 1-079(C) NMRA, probate records such as wills deposited under Section 45-2-515 NMSA 1978, guardianship proceedings under Chapter 45, Article 5, Part 3, NMSA 1978, and conservatorship proceedings under Chapter 245, Article 5, Part 4, NMSA 1978, are confidential.
To inspect public probate records in Curry County, interested persons should use the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup web app. The app provides access to public court case records of probate matters handled in the Curry County District Court. Otherwise, interested persons can visit or call the district court clerk's office to inspect or request copies. They can also visit the Curry County Probate Court in person to inspect or request copies of records maintained by the court.
Note that the jurisdiction of the probate court is limited to admitting wills to informal probate, appointing personal representatives (informally), and appointing special administrators for estates.
Curry County Family Court Records
Curry County family court records document domestic matters, such as divorce, adoption, custody, and support. These cases are heard in the Curry County District Court. To inspect or obtain copies of family court records in the county, interested persons should visit the clerk's office at the district courthouse Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Alternatively, interested persons can access Curry County family court records online through the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup web app. The app supports searches by name and case number. These records may also be requested online using the IPRA request form or by mail to:
New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts
Attn: Records Custodian
202 East Marcy Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Note that while most family court records are open to inspection under New Mexico IPRA, adoption records and records of cases handled under the Adult Protective Services Act are not open to disclosure.
Federal Court Records in Curry County
A federal court record is any document, paper, exhibit, transcript, or other material maintained by a federal court in connection with a legal case heard by the court. Cases heard in federal courts include mail or wire fraud, drug trafficking, bankruptcy, and federal law violations.
Federal court records are public records; as such, interested persons can access them online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Through the portal, individuals can search, inspect, or obtain case records for matters heard in any federal court in the US. Accessing case information via the portal costs $0.10 per page, with a $3.00 cap per document.
Alternatively, federal court records in Curry County may be requested by email, mail, fax, or in person from the Records Section at the U.S. District Court Clerk's Office (United States District Court for the District of New Mexico).
