Probate is a court proceeding used to handle the affairs of a person who has died; called a decedent.

The court distributes the assets according to either:

• The decedent's will; or
• If the decendent died without a will, according to New Mexico's Laws of Intestate Sucsession

Probate Court appoints legally qualified persons, called personal representatives, to manage and settle the decedent's business affairs. If the probate is informal and uncontested, it can be filed in Probate Court for a fee of $30.00.

A good first step in determining how a decedent's estate should be handled, is a visit with the Probate Judge, which costs nothing. Call 575-574-0071 prior to your visit with me on Tuesday or Wednesday between the hours of 9:00am and 1:00pm. The death of a family member or a friend is a difficult time for everyone. Don't let the mysteries or misconceptions of the legal process make it that much harder.

Mailing Address

• Probate Judge
  P. O. BOX 898
  Silver City, New Mexico 88062

Physical Address

• County Administration Building
  1400 Highway 180 East
  Silver City, New Mexico 88061

Telephone Number

• 575-574-0071
  

Fax

• 575-574-0076

Office Hours
(Subject To Change)

• Wednesdays - 9:00am - 1:00pm
  

For appointment call:

• (575) 388-1136 (Home) 
  (575) 313-7033 (Cell)