Court records in Chaves County, New Mexico, are maintained by the clerk of the district court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. ChavesCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Chaves County. You can also search records through the NM Case Lookup portal, submit a formal Inspect Public Records Request, or visit the clerk's office at the Chaves County courthouse in Roswell.
Chaves Court System Overview
Chaves County is part of the Fifth Judicial District of New Mexico, which also includes Eddy County and Lea County. The Fifth Judicial District Court handles district-level cases for all three counties, with the Chaves County division based in Roswell. A magistrate court also serves the county, handling lower-level criminal and civil matters. The district court and magistrate court work together — magistrate judges conduct preliminary hearings on felony charges before cases are bound over to district court, and they independently resolve misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic cases.
Courts Serving Chaves
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth Judicial District Court — Chaves County | 400 N Virginia Ave, Roswell, NM 88201 | (575) 622-2212 |
| Chaves County Magistrate Court — Roswell | 300 N Virginia Ave, Roswell, NM 88201 | (575) 622-2220 |
| Roswell Municipal Court | 128 W 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201 | (575) 624-6700 |
| U.S. District Court — District of New Mexico (Roswell sessions) | 100 N Virginia Ave, Roswell, NM 88201 | (575) 625-2388 |
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Mexico is based in Albuquerque but handles bankruptcy filings from Chaves County residents.
What Types of Cases Chaves Courts Hear
Courts in Chaves County handle a wide range of case types across criminal, civil, and specialized dockets:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Infractions and traffic violations (including DUI)
- Civil litigation and small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protection orders
- Probate — estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile — delinquency proceedings and child protective cases
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
The sections below explain which court handles each type of case and how the process works.
District Court Cases in Chaves
The Fifth Judicial District Court in Chaves County hears felony criminal cases after they are bound over from magistrate court following a preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment. It also handles civil lawsuits exceeding the magistrate court's jurisdictional dollar limit, appeals from magistrate court decisions, and post-conviction proceedings such as habeas corpus petitions. Family law matters — including divorce, custody, and child support — are filed directly in district court, as are probate and juvenile cases. Cases are assigned to individual district judges upon filing. Criminal defendants are arraigned and given a trial setting, while civil cases proceed through a scheduling conference and discovery before trial or settlement.
Magistrate Court Cases in Chaves
The Chaves County Magistrate Court in Roswell handles misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and infractions, including DUI arraignments and traffic violations. It also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to district court. Under New Mexico law, magistrate courts have civil jurisdiction over cases where the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less. Small claims cases — those involving $10,000 or less — are also filed here and follow a simplified procedure without formal rules of evidence. Magistrate judges handle a high volume of traffic and DUI cases in Chaves County. Defendants who disagree with a magistrate court judgment in a civil or criminal case may appeal to the district court for a new trial.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Chaves
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Fifth Judicial District Court. The court's website provides divorce and family forms for self-represented parties. Contested custody and support matters typically require mediation before a hearing is scheduled.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters are filed in district court. The Chaves County Probate Court — a county-level office — handles informal probate matters such as uncontested estate administration. Formal or contested probate proceedings go through the district court.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency cases under the Juvenile Justice Code and child protective proceedings under the Children's Code are heard in district court. Juvenile records are confidential under New Mexico law and are not available through public case-lookup tools. Contact the district court clerk's office for information about accessing juvenile case records.
How Cases Move Through the Chaves Court System
- Filing or initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or indictment filed by the prosecutor. Civil cases start with a complaint filed by the plaintiff. Family and probate matters begin with a petition.
- Assignment to a judge: Cases are assigned to a district or magistrate judge based on case type and the court's internal rotation.
- Initial hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment, where charges are read and a plea is entered. Civil litigants attend a scheduling conference to set deadlines.
- Pre-trial phase: In criminal cases, this includes motions, discovery, and plea negotiations. In civil cases, the parties exchange evidence and may attempt mediation or settlement.
- Trial or resolution: Cases that are not resolved by plea agreement, settlement, or default proceed to a bench or jury trial.
- Post-judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, probation, or appeal. Civil cases may involve enforcement of a judgment or appeal to a higher court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Chaves
The Fifth Judicial District is administered by an administrative district judge, supported by a trial court administrator who manages day-to-day operations for the Chaves, Eddy, and Lea County courthouses. Local rules for the Fifth Judicial District govern filing procedures, motion practice, and scheduling. You can find local rules and administrative orders on the Fifth Judicial District website.
Public Access to Records
Under New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile cases, adoption files, and certain mental health or abuse proceedings. You can inspect records in person at the clerk's office or submit a formal request through the IPRA online request form maintained by the New Mexico Courts.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings in Chaves County courts are open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted by video or telephone — check the court's hearing schedule on the Fifth Judicial District website or call the clerk's office for details on remote attendance options.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Chaves
- Case lookup: Search for Chaves County district and magistrate court cases using the NM Case Lookup tool. A separate New Mexico Courts Public Access portal also provides case information for the Chaves County Magistrate Court.
- Court hearing schedules: View upcoming hearing dates and courtroom assignments on the Fifth Judicial District website.
- Court forms and self-help: Download forms for divorce, civil cases, and other matters from the New Mexico Courts Forms Library. Divorce-specific forms for the Fifth District are available on the district's divorce and family page.
- Public records requests: Submit a formal request to inspect court records through the Fifth Judicial District public records page or the statewide IPRA request portal.
- Criminal background checks: The Law Enforcement Records Bureau at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains the state's criminal history repository. Fingerprint-based background checks can be initiated through the DPS fingerprinting and background checks page.
- Inmate search: The New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search allows you to look up individuals in state custody. Note that NMCD does not have jurisdiction over county jail inmates — contact the Chaves County Detention Center for local jail information.
- Apostille and authentication: If you need a court document authenticated for international use, the New Mexico Secretary of State's apostille office handles those requests.
- Legal assistance: The Modest Means Helpline provides legal advice referrals for people who may not qualify for free legal aid but cannot afford full-rate attorneys.