| District Court Clerk | Thirteenth Judicial District Court — Sandoval County District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Sandoval County District Court, 1500 Idalia Rd, Building A, Bernalillo, NM 87004 |
| Phone | Listed on the clerk website |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.35 per page |
| Certified copy fee | $1.50 per document |
Sandoval County is one of three counties in the Thirteenth Judicial District, along with Cibola and Valencia counties, and its district court sits in the city of Bernalillo, not to be confused with neighboring Bernalillo County. Felonies, civil suits, family law, and contested probate for Sandoval County go to the district court clerk there. Misdemeanors, DWI, and traffic tickets go to one of two Sandoval County Magistrate Court locations — Bernalillo or Cuba — depending on where the case was filed.
Both courts are searchable through the statewide New Mexico Courts Case Lookup. The Sandoval County Clerk is a separate office that records deeds, runs elections, and issues marriage licenses; it does not keep court case files.
Because the Thirteenth Judicial District also files cases from Cibola and Valencia counties, always check the county field on a case before assuming it belongs to Sandoval County.
Search Sandoval County court records online
District Court Clerk
Thirteenth Judicial District Court — Sandoval County District Court
- Cost
- Free case search on Case Lookup; copy fees set by the court
- Coverage
- District-court felony, civil, family, and contested-probate cases for Sandoval County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The Thirteenth Judicial District also covers Cibola and Valencia counties from separate courthouses in Grants and Los Lunas.
Other courts
Sandoval County Magistrate Court (Bernalillo)
- Cost
- Free case search on Case Lookup; copy fees set by the court
- Coverage
- Misdemeanors, DWI/DUI, traffic citations, civil claims up to $10,000, and felony first appearances for the Bernalillo, NM area of Sandoval County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
A second Sandoval County Magistrate Court sits in Cuba for cases in the northern part of the county.
Other courts
New Mexico Courts Case Lookup
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide index search covering the Sandoval County District Court and both Sandoval County Magistrate Court locations
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Check the court name on the case detail; the Thirteenth Judicial District also handles Cibola and Valencia county cases.
What is available online
Case Lookup shows current docket entries for the district court and both Sandoval County magistrate court locations (Bernalillo and Cuba), but not document images. re:Search®NM can show filed documents to registered attorneys of record and self-represented parties in their own cases.
Which clerk has your record
In New Mexico, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the New Mexico page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| District Courts (13 judicial districts) | Felony criminal cases; Civil suits of any amount; Divorce, custody, and other domestic-relations cases | District Court Clerk of the judicial district |
| Magistrate Courts and Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court | Misdemeanors; DWI/DUI; Traffic citations | Magistrate Court Clerk (Metropolitan Court Clerk in Bernalillo County) |
| Probate Courts | Informal, uncontested probate of wills; Small estates | County Probate Judge |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations; Petty misdemeanors; Traffic tickets issued inside city limits | Municipal Court Clerk of the city |
Request records in person or by mail
Sandoval County clerk offices
Sandoval County District Court, 1500 Idalia Rd, Building A, Bernalillo, NM 87004
District Court records. Contact the Sandoval County District Court at 1500 Idalia Rd, Building A, Bernalillo, NM 87004, or submit a request through the statewide IPRA web form at ipra.nmcourts.gov. Include the case number, the documents needed, and whether certified copies are required.
Magistrate Court records. Contact whichever Sandoval County Magistrate Court location — Bernalillo or Cuba — heard the case; each keeps its own separate file.
Confirm the county. The Thirteenth Judicial District also files cases for Cibola and Valencia counties, so verify the county field on any Case Lookup result before requesting copies.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.35 per page |
| Certified copy | $1.50 per document |
Confirmed on the Second Judicial District (Bernalillo County) Clerk's Office fee schedule under the authority of NMSA 1978 §§ 34-6-40 and 34-6-43. Each judicial district and each magistrate/metropolitan court adopts its own fee schedule, so amounts can differ outside Bernalillo County; confirm with the specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
New Mexico court records are open to the public under the common-law right of access and the Inspection of Public Records Act, but Rule 1-079 NMRA (and its counterparts for magistrate, metropolitan, and municipal courts) governs sealing and lets a court close all or part of a record's docket, case type, or documents by order. A record's basic case number and case type generally may not be sealed without a specific court order, even when the file itself is confidential.
The New Mexico guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sandoval County's district court in Bernalillo County?
No. Sandoval County's district courthouse is in the city of Bernalillo, which is the Sandoval County seat, but it is a different jurisdiction from neighboring Bernalillo County and its Metropolitan Court.
Which Sandoval County magistrate court has my case?
Either the Bernalillo or the Cuba location, depending on where the case was filed. Check the case detail on the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup to see which one has it.
Does the Sandoval County Clerk have court case files?
No. The county clerk's office handles real-property recording, elections, and marriage licenses. Court cases stay with the district court or magistrate court that heard them.
How do I get a copy of a Sandoval County district court document?
Contact the Sandoval County District Court directly, or submit a request through the statewide IPRA web form at ipra.nmcourts.gov with the case number and the documents you need.
Sources
- Sandoval County District Court (Thirteenth Judicial District) — https://thirteenthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/court/sandoval-county-district-court/
- Sandoval County Magistrate Court (Bernalillo) — https://thirteenthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/court/sandoval-county-magistrate-court/
- Thirteenth Judicial District Court — Location, Hours & Contacts — https://thirteenthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/location-hours-contacts/
- New Mexico Courts Case Lookup — https://caselookup.nmcourts.gov/caselookup/app
- New Mexico Courts — Courts in New Mexico — https://nmcourts.gov/courts-in-new-mexico/
- New Mexico Courts — Public Access and re:Search®NM — https://selfrepresentation.nmcourts.gov/self-representation/public-access-and-researchnm/
- New Mexico Courts — IPRA Records Request — https://ipra.nmcourts.gov/
- NM Department of Public Safety — Fingerprinting and Background Checks — https://www.dps.nm.gov/law-enforcement-records-bureau/fingerprinting-and-background-checks/
- NMOneSource.com — https://www.nmonesource.com/nmos/en/nav.do
- Rule 1-079 NMRA — Public Inspection and Sealing of Court Records (District Court Civil) — https://supremecourt.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/Rule-1-079-NMRA.pdf
- NMSA 1978, Chapter 29, Article 3A — Criminal Record Expungement Act — https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2019/chapter-29/article-3a/section-29-3a-1/
- NMSA 1978 § 34-6-40 — District Courts; Finance; Fees — https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2024/chapter-34/article-6/section-34-6-40/
- United States District Court for the District of New Mexico — https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all New Mexico counties.