Notice: Welcome to the new Library of Congress Catalog. Please read Important Information for Researchers guide External for information on how to activate your account.
Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.
Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below. If it has not been digitized or if you need a certified copy, contact the appropriate state or county office to view the record.
Birth and death records are restricted and issued only to immediate family members or others demonstrating 'a tangible legal interest.' Birth records are closed for 100 years, and death records for fifty years.
| Adoption Records | |
|---|---|
| Birth Records |
Birth certificates become public records one hundred (100) years after the date of birth. NOTE: New Mexico birth certificates are restricted access records. State law restricts access to the registrant's immediate family members or those who represent tangible proof of legal interest in the requested record. Immediate Family means any of the following: mother, father, sibling, child, grandchild, current spouse, or maternal or paternal grandparent. Paternal grandparent is eligible if father is listed on the vital record. |
| Death Records |
New Mexico death certificates are restricted access records. State law restricts access to death certificates to the deceased registrant's (also called decedent) immediate family members or those who represent tangible proof of legal interest in the requested record. Immediate Family means any of the following: mother, father, sibling, child, current spouse, or maternal or paternal grandparent. Paternal grandparent is eligible if father is listed on the vital record. Death certificates become public records fifty (50) years after the date of death. |
| Marriage Records |
|
| Divorce Records |
|
The subscription resources marked with a padlock 
are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.
Using Ancestry Library Edition for New Mexico
Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as New Mexico records External.
Using FamilySearch for New Mexico
FamilySearch provides useful state and county wikis that make excellent starting points for research. The New Mexico Wiki External includes links to each of its counties.
FamilySearch has digitized many of its microfilms containing county courthouse records including birth, death, and marriage. Not all records have been indexed yet, so search engine results may NOT show you the full range of FamilySearch data. You must browse the FamilySearch catalog External listings for each county to view the full set of records available. The vast amount of accessible original records is well worth your time to explore.
Contact the New Mexico Department of Health, Vital Records External to learn more about accessing state-level records and explore additional options for obtaining copies.
Below are selected print publications for statewide vital records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.
To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published county courthouse records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records at the county level.
Guide to public vital statistics records in New Mexico
by
