What is Probate?

Probate is the legal process for family members or “heirs” to obtain authority from the Court to be able to handle a deceased person’s property, personal affairs and other business items. The person who has died is called a “decedent” and the property left by the decedent is called the “estate.”

Personal Representative

The Probate Court appoints a legally qualified person, called the “Personal Representative,” also known as the Executor, to manage and settle the decedent’s business and property affairs. Personal Representatives take on a very big responsibility, known as a “fiduciary duty,” to follow state law, address creditors, and pass the decedent’s property to the rightful recipients.

Property Transfer

The property is transferred according to the decedent’s Last Will and Testament if they had one at death, or according to New Mexico’s laws of Intestate Succession. Rightful recipients might include heirs, people listed in the Will, or Creditors (people or businesses who are owed money by the deceased person).

Jurisdiction

The Taos County Probate Court has jurisdiction over a Probate case If:

  • It is an informal proceeding where no formal hearing or oversight by the Court is required
  • The case is uncontested and undisputed and all parties are in agreement with who should be appointed as the Personal Representative and how the property should be distributed
  • The decedent's legal residence was in Taos County.
  • The decedent lived outside of New Mexico but owned property in Taos County

If the Decedent left a valid Last Will and Testament but it has been over three years since the date of death, only the District Court has jurisdiction. 

State Law

State law allows the Probate Courts to:

  • Admit Wills to informal Probate if presented within three years of death
  • Appoint Personal Representatives informally (without a hearing) when there is no Will
  • Appoint Special Administrators, which are persons who have limited authority by the Court to perform a limited and specific job such as safeguarding the decedent’s home or pets until a Personal Representative with full authority can be appointed

Concurrent Jurisdiction

The Probate Court has “concurrent jurisdiction” with the District Court, meaning that the District Court can oversee the same types of cases as the Probate Court. The District Court also has much higher jurisdiction over all other cases, including formal probates, determinations of heirship, contested cases, property disputes, estates of missing and protected persons, supervised administrations, guardianships and conservatorships, trust matters, and other legal issues.

Source of Information

The Probate Court serves as a neutral and general source of information on the probate process and provides access to public records that have been filed with the Court.

Wedding Ceremonies

Probate Judges can also perform wedding ceremonies within their county.