Court records of San Juan County, New Mexico, can be searched through online tools, official court resources, offices, and public terminals. SanJuanCourt.us allows you to find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records are available through the New Mexico Courts' Public Access portal, the office of the Eleventh Judicial District Court, and public computer terminals directly within the court premises.
San Juan Court System & Jurisdictions
San Juan County is part of the Eleventh Judicial District of New Mexico. There are two main courts here, each handling different categories of cases.
District Court
San Juan County District Court in Farmington is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles:
- Criminal cases involving felonies
- Civil lawsuits with a dispute amount exceeding $10,000
- Family cases — divorce, child custody, alimony
- Probate cases — the legal process of distributing a deceased person's estate
- Appeals from magistrate court decisions
Magistrate Court
The Magistrate Court of San Juan County is located in Aztec. The judge here handles misdemeanors, small claims lawsuits up to $10,000, traffic violations, and issues search and arrest warrants. Civil cases where the dispute amount exceeds the magistrate court's limit automatically move to the district court.
If you're unsure which court is handling your case, use NM Case Lookup — the system will show where the proceedings are registered.
San Juan Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings for the current day and six days ahead is published separately for each court in the county.
- District Court: go to the District Court schedule in Farmington page. It lists the presiding judge's name, type of hearing, case number, and time.
- Magistrate Court: the Magistrate Court schedule in Aztec is also updated daily and contains information about sessions for the upcoming week.
If you need a hearing beyond the six-day window, contact the relevant court office by phone. Some sessions are held remotely — the video conference link is provided directly in the schedule.
How to Get a Copy of a San Juan Court Document
There are three ways to obtain a copy of a court document in the county.
Online
Through the New Mexico Courts' Public Access portal or the re:SearchNM system, you can view electronic case records of district and magistrate courts. Note: information from this portal is not an official court record. To obtain a certified copy, you need to contact the office.
In Person
Visit the district court office in Farmington or the magistrate court in Aztec. It is advisable to have the case number or the full name of the party. The clerk will issue a regular or certified copy of the document. A certified copy has the court seal and confirms authenticity — it is usually required for submission to other institutions.
By Mail
Send a written request to the district court office address. Include the case number, document name, and type of copy (regular or certified). Add payment in the form of a money order.
Request via IPRA
If the document is not available through standard channels, you can submit a request under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) through the IPRA portal. New Mexico courts do not conduct criminal background checks for the public — for this, contact the Law Enforcement Records Bureau of the Department of Public Safety.
San Juan Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents in New Mexico are set by the administrative rules of the state's judicial system. Below are approximate rates — it is recommended to confirm the exact amount with the court office before applying.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular copy (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $1.50 per document |
| Audio recording of court session | Depends on duration; check with the office |
| Case search upon request | A fee may be charged for search time on complex requests |
Payment is usually accepted in the form of a money order, cashier's check, or — in person — cash. The possibility of credit card payment depends on the specific court; confirm this in advance.
Viewing records through the Public Access portal is free. Fees are only charged for producing physical or certified copies of documents.