How do I get a copy of the adoption order in New Mexico?

To get a copy of your adoption order in New Mexico, ask the clerk of the District Court in the county where your adoption was finalized for certified copies, ideally right after the judge signs the order.

Right after your adoption is finalized:

• Ask the District Court clerk how certified copies are requested and whether they are ready the same day or sent by mail.
• Request certified copies rather than plain photocopies, because agencies usually want a copy bearing the court's certification.
• Ask the clerk about the fee per copy and how many copies you may request at once. Fees and timing can differ from one county to the next, so the clerk is the best source.

How many copies to get: Ordering several certified copies at the start is easier than going back later. You may need one for each of these:

• New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics, if you are asking about a new birth certificate for your child
• Health insurance, to add your child as a dependent
• School records
• A passport application
• Your own permanent family records

If you need a copy later:

• Contact the clerk of the District Court where the adoption was finalized. You can do this even if you have since moved.
• Have the case number, the names on the case and the approximate date of finalization ready.
• Ask what identification, request form and payment the clerk requires. Each county's clerk sets out those details.
• If you are unsure which county handled your case, think back to where you filed your petition. That is the court that holds your file.

Using the order for a new birth certificate: New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics is the agency that handles birth records. Contact them for their current forms, fees and what they need from you along with the certified order. Because the agency sets those requirements, check with them before you mail anything.

Keep the original safe: Store your certified copies with other important papers, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards. Avoid laminating them, since a laminated copy may not be accepted.

If something seems wrong or missing: If your order contains a spelling error, a wrong date or a wrong name, or if the clerk cannot find your case, contact the District Court clerk right away. If the problem involves a legal question about the order itself, an attorney can advise you on your specific situation.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county, which you file yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child, or for one adult adoptee, plus $99 for each additional child. Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 563 New Mexico families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.