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Eddy County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Eddy County?

Public records in Eddy County are defined under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (§ 14-2-1 NMSA 1978) as all documents, papers, letters, books, maps, tapes, photographs, recordings, and other materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that are made, maintained, or kept by a government agency. The following categories of records are currently available to members of the public through various Eddy County offices:

  • Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Fifth Judicial District Court and the Eddy County Magistrate Courts.
  • Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are filed with the Eddy County Clerk's Office and the Eddy County Assessor's Office.
  • Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued by the New Mexico Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics; marriage and divorce records are held by the Eddy County Clerk's Office.
  • Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are maintained by the Eddy County Clerk's Office and the New Mexico Secretary of State.
  • Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are administered by the Eddy County Assessor's Office and the Eddy County Treasurer's Office.
  • Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Eddy County Clerk's Office in its capacity as the county's chief election authority.
  • Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Eddy County Commission meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings are kept by the County Clerk's Office.
  • Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit documents are available through the Eddy County Finance Department.
  • Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Eddy County Sheriff's Office.
  • Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits are held by the Eddy County Planning and Zoning Department.

Eddy County Clerk's Office 101 W. Greene St., Suite 130, Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 885-3383 Eddy County Clerk's Office

Is Eddy County an Open Records County?

Eddy County fully complies with New Mexico's open records framework, which mandates broad public access to government documents. Under § 14-2-1 through § 14-2-12 NMSA 1978, the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), every person has the right to inspect public records of state and local government bodies. The Act establishes that public records are presumed open unless a specific statutory exemption applies, placing the burden of justification on the government agency seeking to withhold records. New Mexico's Open Meetings Act (§ 10-15-1 NMSA 1978) further reinforces government transparency by requiring that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available. Eddy County government agencies are required to respond to inspection requests within fifteen business days of receiving a written request. The Fifth Judicial District Court, which serves Eddy County, processes court-related public records requests through its dedicated IPRA portal for Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties.

How to Find Public Records in Eddy County in 2026

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

  1. Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency holds the record sought — for example, the County Clerk for property and vital records, the Sheriff's Office for incident reports, or the Fifth Judicial District Court for civil and criminal case files.
  2. Submit a written IPRA request. Under current law, requests must be submitted in writing to the records custodian of the relevant agency. Requests may be delivered in person, by mail, or by email where the agency accepts electronic submissions.
  3. Use online court access tools. Court records for Eddy County Magistrate Courts in both Artesia and Carlsbad are searchable through New Mexico Courts' Public Access, which provides case information for magistrate, district, and appellate courts statewide.
  4. Search via re:SearchNM. The Public Access and re:Search®NM platform provides online access to court records across New Mexico's appellate courts, district courts, magistrate courts, metropolitan court, and municipal courts.
  5. Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant agency's public counter during regular business hours without submitting a formal written request in all cases.
  6. Request copies. If copies are needed, the requester must specify the format (paper or electronic) and pay applicable fees upon retrieval or delivery.
  7. Search inmate and offender records. The New Mexico Corrections Department offender search tool allows members of the public to look up current and former state inmates by name or offender number.

Eddy County Sheriff's Office 102 N. Canal St., Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 887-7551 Eddy County Sheriff's Office

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

Standard fees for public records in Eddy County are governed by the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, which authorizes agencies to charge reasonable fees for copying and certifying records. Current fees typically include:

  • Paper copies: $0.25 per page for standard letter- or legal-size documents at most county offices.
  • Certified copies: Vital records such as birth and death certificates carry a standard fee of $10.00 per certified copy through the New Mexico Department of Health.
  • Electronic records: Agencies may provide electronic copies at no charge or at a reduced rate when records are already maintained in digital format.
  • Certification fees: Additional charges may apply for documents requiring an official seal or notarization.
  • Research fees: Some agencies charge for staff time spent locating and compiling records when the request requires more than a minimal effort.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county agency. Under § 14-2-9 NMSA 1978, agencies may not charge fees that exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to serve a significant public interest, at the discretion of the records custodian.

Does Eddy County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under New Mexico law, which requires that records be made available for in-person review at no charge. The following government resources currently provide free access to Eddy County records:

  • In-person inspection at the Eddy County Clerk's Office, Assessor's Office, and other county departments is available at no cost during regular business hours.
  • New Mexico Courts' Public Access portal provides free online case lookups for Eddy County Magistrate Court locations in Artesia and Carlsbad, as well as Fifth Judicial District Court records.
  • re:Search®NM offers free online access to court records across New Mexico's judicial system, including district and magistrate court filings for Eddy County.
  • New Mexico Corrections Department provides a free offender information search for members of the public seeking information on state inmates.
  • Eddy County Assessor's Office makes property assessment data available online at no charge through the county's official web portal.

Eddy County Assessor's Office 101 W. Greene St., Suite 117, Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 885-3813 Eddy County Assessor's Office

Who Can Request Public Records in Eddy County?

Any person may request public records in Eddy County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act does not restrict access to New Mexico residents; non-residents and out-of-state individuals retain the same rights of access as county residents. Under current law, requesters are generally not required to:

  • Provide proof of identity or residency for most standard record types.
  • State the reason or purpose for the request.
  • Demonstrate a personal interest in the records sought.

Certain record categories carry additional access requirements. Individuals requesting their own criminal history records through the New Mexico Department of Public Safety must provide identification and submit a fingerprint-based background check request. Sealed court records, juvenile records, and adoption records require a court order for access regardless of the requester's identity. Members of the public seeking records through the New Mexico judicial system may access non-restricted case information online without providing identification. Attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and authorized government entities may have expanded access to restricted record categories pursuant to applicable statutes.

What Records Are Confidential in Eddy County?

Not all government records in Eddy County are subject to public disclosure. The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act enumerates specific categories of exempt records, and additional protections arise under federal law and other state statutes. The following records are currently withheld from public inspection:

  • 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 related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation.
  • Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents.
  • Medical records — Health information is protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and is not subject to public disclosure.
  • Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute and require a court order for access.
  • Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department regarding child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential.
  • Personnel records — Employee records are exempt from disclosure except for information relating to the name, title, and compensation of public employees.
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld.
  • Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Documents describing vulnerabilities in public infrastructure or security systems are exempt from disclosure.

Under § 14-2-1(D) NMSA 1978, agencies must apply a balancing test when a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, redacting only the protected portions and releasing the remainder to the requester.

Eddy County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Eddy County Clerk's Office serves as the official recorder of documents for Eddy County, maintaining land records, vital records, and official county documents. Members of the public may inspect records or submit requests at the public counter during regular business hours.

Eddy County Clerk's Office (Recorder) 101 W. Greene St., Suite 130, Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 885-3383 Eddy County Clerk's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (excluding state and federal holidays)

Fifth Judicial District Court – Carlsbad 950 W. Pierce St., Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 885-4740 Fifth Judicial District Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Eddy County Magistrate Court – Carlsbad 1400 W. Stevens St., Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 885-4993 New Mexico Courts Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Eddy County Magistrate Court – Artesia 208 W. Quay Ave., Artesia, NM 88210 (575) 746-9871 New Mexico Courts Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Eddy County Treasurer's Office 101 W. Greene St., Suite 114, Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 885-3383 Eddy County Treasurer's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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