San Juan County Public Records

What Are Public Records in San Juan County?

Public records in San Juan County, New Mexico, are defined under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), § 14-2-1 et seq. NMSA 1978, as all documents, papers, letters, books, maps, tapes, photographs, recordings, and other materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that are made or received by a government agency in connection with the transaction of public business. The following record types are currently available to members of the public in San Juan County:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files maintained by the Eleventh Judicial District Court and the San Juan County Magistrate Court
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments maintained by the San Juan County Clerk's Office
Vital records — Birth and death certificates maintained by the New Mexico Department of Health; marriage licenses and divorce decrees filed with the County Clerk
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations held by the County Clerk and municipal licensing offices
Tax records — Property tax bills and assessment records maintained by the San Juan County Assessor's Office
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results maintained by the San Juan County Clerk, Bureau of Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Commission meeting minutes, board agendas, and resolutions posted by the San Juan County Manager's Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audit reports, and expenditure records available through the San Juan County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports available, where permitted, through the San Juan County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits maintained by the San Juan County Planning and Zoning Department

The San Juan County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for the majority of recorded documents, while court records are administered separately through the New Mexico Courts system.

Is San Juan County an Open Records County?

San Juan County fully complies with New Mexico's statewide open records framework. Under § 14-2-1 NMSA 1978, the Inspection of Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect public records of the state and its political subdivisions. The Act establishes a clear presumption of openness: all records are presumed public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Key provisions currently in effect include:

Government agencies must respond to a written inspection request within three business days of receiving it
Agencies must provide a written explanation if any records are withheld, citing the specific statutory authority for the denial
Custodians are required to provide reasonable facilities for inspection during regular business hours

San Juan County does not maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance that supersedes state law; all county offices operate in compliance with IPRA as administered by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. The county is also subject to the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available.

How to Find Public Records in San Juan County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain San Juan County public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county or state agency holds the record sought. Property and vital records are held by the County Clerk; court records are held by the Eleventh Judicial District Court or the Magistrate Court; tax records are held by the Assessor's Office.
Submit a written IPRA request. Requests must be submitted in writing, either in person, by mail, or by email, to the designated records custodian at the relevant office. No specific form is mandated by state law, but the request must reasonably describe the records sought.
Use online portals where available. The Eleventh Judicial District Court accepts Inspection of Public Records Act requests and provides access to case information through its public records request portal. Court case data is also searchable through the New Mexico Courts' public access system, which includes records from the San Juan County Magistrate Court in Aztec.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant office during posted public counter hours without submitting a formal written request in all cases.
Await the agency response. The custodian must respond within three business days, either by providing access, requesting clarification, or issuing a written denial with statutory justification.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in San Juan County?

Current fees for public records in San Juan County are governed by § 14-2-9 NMSA 1978, which authorizes agencies to charge reasonable fees for copying records but prohibits fees for the mere inspection of records. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies: Typically $0.25 per page for standard letter- or legal-size documents, though individual offices may set their own schedules within statutory limits
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; certified copies of vital records through the New Mexico Department of Health are subject to separate fee schedules established by that agency
Electronic records: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing electronic copies, including staff time for extensive requests
Postage and delivery: Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed at the requester's direction

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under IPRA, but agencies retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances, particularly for requests determined to be in the public interest.

Does San Juan County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records at no charge under current New Mexico law; fees apply only when copies are requested. Several government-operated resources currently provide free access to San Juan County records online:

New Mexico Courts' Public Access portal — Members of the public may search civil, criminal, magistrate, and appellate court case information at no cost through the online case lookup system maintained by the New Mexico Judiciary
re:Search℠NM — Detailed court records for district courts, magistrate courts, and appellate courts are available through the re:Search℠NM platform, which provides free public access to case documents
San Juan County Assessor's Office — Property assessment and ownership data are available for free inspection through the county's online property search tool
San Juan County Clerk's Office — Recorded document indexes are available for free public inspection at the clerk's public counter during regular business hours

Who Can Request Public Records in San Juan County?

Any person may request public records in San Juan County regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under § 14-2-1 NMSA 1978, the right to inspect public records extends to every person, and agencies are not permitted to require requesters to identify themselves or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access. Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Residency: Non-residents of New Mexico and non-residents of San Juan County retain full rights to request and inspect public records
Identification: Agencies may not require requesters to provide identification as a precondition for inspecting records, though identification may be required for certain certified copies or records involving personal information
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for most public records; however, certain sensitive record categories may require the requester to demonstrate a legitimate interest
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records that contain their own personal information, such as criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, including juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or by court order

What Records Are Confidential in San Juan County?

Not all government records in San Juan County are subject to public disclosure. Under § 14-2-1 NMSA 1978 and related statutory provisions, the following categories of records are currently exempt from mandatory public disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or children's court proceedings are confidential under New Mexico Children's Code provisions
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records — Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state health privacy statutes are not subject to public disclosure
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare and protective services records — Records of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department relating to abuse and neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for information such as an employee's name, title, and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercial or financial information submitted to a government agency in confidence is exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities and infrastructure are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder.

San Juan County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The San Juan County Clerk's Office serves as the official recorder of documents for San Juan County and maintains property records, vital records indexes, election records, and business filings.

San Juan County Clerk's Office 100 S. Oliver Dr., Aztec, NM 87410 (505) 334-9471 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (excluding state and federal holidays) San Juan County Clerk

Eleventh Judicial District Court – San Juan County 103 S. Oliver Dr., Aztec, NM 87410 (505) 334-6151 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eleventh Judicial District Court

San Juan County Assessor's Office 100 S. Oliver Dr., Aztec, NM 87410 (505) 334-6157 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. San Juan County Assessor

San Juan County Sheriff's Office 4030 College Blvd., Farmington, NM 87402 (505) 334-6836 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. San Juan County Sheriff

New Mexico Department of Health – Vital Records 1105 S. St. Francis Dr., Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 827-0121 New Mexico Vital Records