Located in northern New Mexico and established in 1852, Santa Fe County has a population of 150,000 people. It covers an area of 1,911 square miles. Santa Fe County's seat is in Santa Fe City, which also serves as the capital of New Mexico.

Courts in Santa Fe County

Sante County's legal structure comprises District, Magistrate, Probate, and Municipal Courts. The Santa Fe County District Court presides over criminal cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for all criminal cases. District Court handles civil cases such as dispute claims exceeding $10,000, domestic relations, and domestic violence cases. The District Court has a Children's Court Division that deals with juvenile cases, including child neglect, adoptions, foster care, and emancipation of minors.

The Magistrate Court has limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, presiding over misdemeanors, county ordinance violations, and civil disputes for claims under $10,000. The Probate Court in Santa Fe has limited jurisdiction over probate matters, including appointment of executors, guardianships of minors, and determination of heirship.

The Municipal Courts has jurisdiction over cases involving violations of city ordinances, including petty misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and violations of city ordinances.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Santa Fe County

Public court records are documents and information submitted, filed, or kept by the courts that are open to the public for viewing and copying. Santa Fe County public court records are available online through the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup. Additionally, record seekers may visit the courthouse to obtain the records or mail requests for the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Santa Fe County

Public access to court records ensures that the judiciary is accountable for decisions made and operates with fairness during legal proceedings. The following types of public court records are available to residents of Santa Fe County:

• Civil Court Records: Evictions, property disputes, foreclosures, business litigations, and restraining order
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including fraud, arson, petty theft, and public intoxication
• Family Law Records: Annulment, divorce, legal separation, child custody, and child support
• Probate Records: Guardianships, conservatorships, wills, estates, and trusts
• Traffic Records:  Stop sign violation, parking violation, illegal U-turn, over-speeding, and driving with a suspended license

Confidential Court Records in Santa Fe County

Confidential court records in Santa Fe County refer to documents, papers, and information containing sensitive or private information inaccessible to the public. Confidential court records are sealed to protect individuals' privacy. Examples of confidential court records in Santa Fe County include:

• Mental health commitment records
• Adoption records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Juvenile court records
• Trade secrets

Court records also contain personal information that is confidential and excluded from public court records. Personal data are redacted from court documents to comply with legal standards and protect the record holder from harm, fraud, or identity theft. Personal identifying information inaccessible by the public includes:

• Driver’s license numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Vehicle identification numbers
• Health insurance identification numbers
• Birth dates, residential addresses, and phone numbers.

Juvenile Delinquency in Santa Fe, NM

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Santa Fe County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Mexico often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 533 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Santa Fe County. Of that total, 78% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 415 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Santa Fe County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Santa Fe County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Santa Fe County, NM

http://www.newmexico.gov/

County Seat:	Santa Fe
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1852
Total Square Miles:	1,911
2019 Population:	148,750
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01

Santa Fe County, NM Courts