How to Find New Mexico Death Records

New Mexico's earliest settlement, San Juan, was established in 1598. In 1850 New Mexico became a territory of the United States and a state in 1912. County registration of deaths was required in 1907 and statewide registration began in 1920.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Death Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * Before 1906
 * 1906 thru 1949
 * After 1949 to the present
 * Death year unknown


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Deaths before 1906
The state of New Mexico did not keep records before 1906. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. Databases for New Mexico Substitute Death Records - Collections are incomplete
 * 1701-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1788-1789, 1838-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
 * 1889-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; ''Also at: Ancestry ($)

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1906 thru 1949

 * 1906 - A few New Mexico cities and counties started keeping death records
 * 1920 - New Mexico statewide death registration began

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below try searching for death information in other records.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
With the exact date of death from your records or from an index you may look at films from the FamilySearch Library or order the certificate from New Mexico.

Return to top: Choose another death year

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
PART A: You know the exact date of death 

Currently there are no indexes for deaths after 1949. With an exact date from your records you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

PART B: You don't know the exact date of death 

If you do not know the exact death date try the following database or search other records with death information

See list of restrictions for ordering death records. Return to top: Choose another death year

Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records
Restrictions for obtaining certificates of persons who died within the last 50 years: To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:


 * The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
 * The current spouse of the person on the certificate
 * The child or grandchild of the person on the certificate
 * The sibling of the person on the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.
 * You will need to list the reason why you want the death certificate.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information. Return to top: Choose another death year

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