Sandoval County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Created from the northern part of Bernalillo County in 1903, Sandoval County was named after a large land-holding Spanish family. It spans a total of 3,716 square miles within the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The county's estimated population as of 2022 was 149,460. Bernalillo became its county seat in 1905. The highest court of trial in Sandoval County is the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of New Mexico. It consists of two Magistrate Courts and a District Court. Other key courts operating within the county are the Probate Court and Municipal Courts.

The District and Probate Courts in Sandoval County are located in Bernalillo. The District Court hears cases involving tort, real property, estate, and contract. The exclusive jurisdiction over mental health, domestic relations, contested probate, and juvenile matters lies with the District Court. The role of the Probate Court is limited to informal probate and informal estate matters. This court has the authority to verify wills, supervise assets, and appoint guardianship for minors. The Magistrate Court shares jurisdiction with the District Court over cases relating to contract, tort, and most misdemeanor criminal cases, and may also conduct preliminary hearings for all types of criminal cases. The Magistrate Courts in Sandoval County are situated in Bernalillo and Cuba. Municipal Courts in Sandoval County are tasked with hearing local matters within their jurisdictions. They determine animal control cases, traffic citations, code enforcement cases, and petty misdemeanors. These courts are located in Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Cuba, Jemez Springs, and San Ysidro.

In Sandoval County, the County Manager maintains the court records of cases filed in the county. To access court records, interested parties can submit their record requests through the Sandoval County Online Public Records Portal. Alternatively, the Case Lookup website provided by the New Mexico Courts allows users to access electronic court records of District, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts. In addition, all records related to mental health proceedings, grand jury proceedings, or trade secrets are exempt from public viewing.

The Sandoval County court system fulfills a critical role as the county's judicial branch, guaranteeing fair and prompt access to justice for its residents. This system comprises four key courts, namely: Municipal Courts, Magistrate Courts, District Court, and Probate Court. Notably, the public enjoys access to court records through two primary methods. The first method involves utilizing the online resource provided by the state judiciary, while the second option entails submitting a request through the public portal offered by Sandoval County.