Recording Info and FAQ

A. You will need to send or deliver the original signed document to us. It should include completed dates, signature(s) of grantor(s), notary certificate (should contain state, county, date of acknowledgment, notary signature, notary seal and notary commission expiration date).

Please remember that all documents vary. If the document pertains to real estate, you must include the legal property description on your document. If you are recording a Release or Assignment, you will need to state the original document book and page or instrument number that is being released or assigned.

A. Each type of deed has a different definition and can be very crucial when transferring property. We are not bonded to direct you as to what form to use. We suggest that you contact a real estate attorney.

A. At the time of recording your document, our office will furnish a copy of the recorded document to the Santa Fe County Assessor; however, please note that it is not the Clerk’s responsibility to assure that the transfer has taken place. By law, the receiver of the property has the responsibility to notify the Santa Fe County Assessor of the property so that the proper party will receive the property tax assessments notices and tax bills.

A. Yes, we will accept a certified copy for recording if, before it is presented to our office for recording, it has a proper certification certificate with a raised seal.

A. An informal and/or an uncertified record search can be conducted by our office; however, our office can only do record searches if the recording took place January, 1991 to the present.

For an in-depth search or for a search involving records prior to 1991, you will either have to come to the office or have a title company do the search for you.

Record searches are by grantor/grantee name(s), title of document and year of recording. Please have that information available when requesting the record search. Searches for legal description can be conducted by the Santa Fe County Assessor’s Office located in our building or by telephone at (505) 986-6300.

A. Our office has a WebX internet service that you can tie into to view the indexed information (grantor, grantee, date of recording, legal description) from Jan. 1991 - Present Day. You will not be able to retrieve images (only from Dec. 2003 - Present Day) or indexed information, unless you have a contract with the County through our Finance Department.

If you are interested in WebX services, please contact the Santa Fe County Finance Department (Melanie Ramirez at (505)995-2750) for information on Santa Fe County’s Computer System Access Agreement which will include scope of service, compensation and invoicing.

A. Yes, you can purchase Microfiche or Compact Disc versions of images. Our fees are as follows:

Microfiche Fees:
Misc. documents such as Deeds............$1.00 per sheet (55 images)
Plats……………………………………$1.75 per sheet (6 images)

Compact Disc Fees:
At this time only records from 12/2003 to the present are available on CD.

Misc. documents such as Deeds………..$200.00 (one week of recordings)
Special Request documents (Example:
    Mortgages Only)…………………….. .05 cents per image
Plats…………………………………… $37.50 (50 images)

A. Please see the Recording and Filing Fee Schedule for a complete list of fees. Please note that by New Mexico statute we are not allowed to copy or certify Death Certificates, although we can furnish you with a letter signed by the County Clerk stating certain recording information on the Death Certificates, such as deceased’s name, date of death, document number and date of recording.

A. Please see the Recording and Filing Fee Schedule for a complete list of fees. The Schedule will include the cost of copies of documents.

A. You will need to send or deliver the original, signed, lien document to us. It should include completed dates, signature(s) of grantor(s), and notary certificate (should contain state, county, date of acknowledgment, notary signature, notary seal, and notary commission expiration date). Please remember that you must include the legal property description on your lien document.

We are not authorized nor bonded to assist you in writing up the lien document. However, we can direct you as to where to obtain the legal description of the real estate property you wish to file the lien on.

At no charge, we will notarize your signature on your lien document when you provide a proper I.D.

A. Yes. However, the Santa Fe County Clerk's Office only records UCC's pertaining to property in Santa Fe County. All other UCC's are handled by the Secretary of State's Office.

A. Yes, multiple “blanket” Assignments or multiple “blanket” Releases can be recorded in our office when they are included in the same instrument. When multiple Assignments or multiple Releases describes more than one Deed, Mortgage, Lease or other instrument, an additional recording fee of $5.00 will be charged for each additional reference.

A. We require that the mylar and two legible black line copies be submitted for plat recordings. The plat must be notarized, and unless the property is a condo, the plat must have either a county/city public notice (see notices below), or approval signatures from the county/city land use administrator.

Santa Fe County Public Notice:
SANTA FE COUNTY LAND USE ADMINISTRATOR HAS NOT REVIEWED THIS PLAT OF BOUNDARY SURVEY, PRIOR TO ITS FILING IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. THIS PLAT IS NOT TO BE FILED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING LOT SPLITS, SUBDIVISIONS, OR NEW LOTS, ALTERING THE BOUNDARIES OF ANY EXISTING LOT(S) FOR THE PURPOSE OF “‘DEVELOPMENT” DEFINED IN THE SANTA FE COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, EXTRATERRITORIAL ZONING ORDINANCE FOR EXTRATERRITORIAL SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS. THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY STIPULATE OR REPRESENT SANTA FE COUNTY LAND USE APPROVAL OF THIS BOUNDARY SURVEY PLAT.

If property is in City:
City of Santa Fe Public Notice:
THIS SURVEY IS BASED ON THOSE RECORDED DOCUMENTS NOTED HEREON. CITY OF SANTA FE STAFF MUST APROVE ALL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED WITH AN APLICATION FOR A BUILDING PERMIT AND MAY REQUUIRE SUBMITTAL OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE LEGAL LOT OF RECORD.

The recording fee for a plat is $10.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page.
If additional copies need to be recorded, the cost is $1.00 pet black line copy.

Be advised that if the plat is a lot split, subdivision or new lot(s) created, you will need to contact the Santa Fe County Land Use Department (if county property) at (505) 986-6336 or City Permit and Development (if property within City limits) at (505) 995-6589.

A. If you apply for and are issued a marriage license in the State New Mexico, the ceremony can only be performed in New Mexico. The ceremony may be performed in any county in New Mexico, however once the ceremony is completed the license must be returned to the County Clerk it was purchased from.

For other requirements please see Marriage License Requirements.

A. Yes. Probate Judge Mark A. Basham is available by appointment to perform marriage ceremonies on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. His office is located at the Bokum Building across the street from our building. The address is 143 W. Palace, and the telephone number is (505)992-1636.

A. Yes. We are unable to issure a license without both parties present.

A. Yes. New Mexico law requires the bride, groom, two witnesses and one official to be present at the ceremony and all must sign the Marriage Certificate.

A. No. We certify the marriage application which is kept on file, the marriage license is not.

A. No. Divorce records are filed at the District Court. The First Judicial District Court covers Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos Counties and is located at the Judge Steve Herrera Court Complex located at  100 Catron Street. You may reach the District Court office at (505) 455-8250, or see their website at www.firstdistrictcourt.com/  for more information.

A. Santa Fe County Probate Judge Mark A. Basham’s office is located across the street from our office at the Bokum Building, 143 West Palace. The telephone number is (505) 992-1636. Judge Basham is available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. At other times, you may reach his clerk, Frank Fischer, at (505) 992-1636. He maintains the Probate Office in the absence of the Probate Judge. If you cannot reach anyone at (505) 992-1636, you may call our office at (505) 986-6280, or see their website at www.santafecounty.org/probate. Packets of probate forms are located in the County Clerk's Office and cost $5.00.

A. No. Birth certificates are located at the New Mexico Vital Records Office. Their office is located at 1900 S. Saint Francis Drive, and they can be reached at (505)827-0121. More information can be found at their website at http://www.vitalrecordsnm.org/birth.shtml

A. No. According to New Mexico state statute we are not allowed to copy death certificates. However we can provide you with the name of deceased, date of death, and state of death. If you are seeking more information on a death certificate please refer to the New Mexico Department of Health at the website below:
http://www.vitalrecordsnm.org/birth.shtml

A. Yes. We have several notaries available and there is no charge for this service.