Which New Mexico court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Magistrate Court / Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Metropolitan Court (Albuquerque) also caps at $10,000. | Up to $10,000 | N.M. Stat. § 35-3-3 |
| Limited civil | Magistrate Court | Up to $10,000 | N.M. Stat. § 35-3-3 |
| General civil | District Court Over $10,000. | No limit | N.M. Const. art. VI |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Rule 1-004(B)(2) NMRA).
11 New Mexico forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to New Mexico practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- SummonsRule 1-004 NMRA: 30-day answer (Rule 1-012 NMRA)
- Civil Cover SheetNM AOC form: filed with the Complaint
- Return of ServiceRule 1-004(L) NMRA: return of service
- Application for Free ProcessRule 1-088 NMRA: free process on indigency
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalRule 1-041(A) NMRA: voluntary dismissal
- Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default JudgmentRule 1-055 NMRA: two-stage default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentRule 1-055 NMRA: 8.75% interest (NMSA § 56-8-4)
- Writ of Garnishment: Wages / EarningsNMSA § 35-12-1 et seq.: 75% / 40x fed min wage exempt (§ 35-12-7)
- Writ of Garnishment: Accounts / PropertyNMSA § 35-12-1 et seq.: garnishee answers within 20 days
- Interrogatories to Judgment DebtorRule 1-069 NMRA: discovery in aid of judgment
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a New Mexico matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Writ of Garnishment: Wages / Earnings · Writ of Garnishment: Accounts / Property · Interrogatories to Judgment Debtor
Fee Waiver
Application for Free Process
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every New Mexico county are in the 1Court Directory: New Mexico.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.