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Probate Judges Handbook
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Section 1. Acknowledgmentsl

Section 2. Resources
• Where to go for Reference Materials
• Website Listings for References and Information

Section 3. Introduction to Probate Courts and Glossary
• Introduction: Probate
• Judges' Glossary

Section 4. Jurisdiction and Venue of Probate Courts
• Probate Court Jurisdiction
• Exclusive District Court Jurisdiction
• Domicile
• Venue
• Examples

Section 5. When a Probate is Required
• When a Probate is Required
• Probate Estate, Defined
• Gross Estate, Defined
• Various Ways to Title Property

Section 6. Wills
• Valid or Not?
• Other Kinds of Wills
• Sample Wills
• Tangible Personal Property List

Section 7. Personal Representatives
• Who Has Priority to Serve?
• Examples
• What if Person With Highest Priority Does Not Want to Serve?
• Co-Personal Representatives
• Successor Personal Representative
• Resignation by Personal Representative
• Bond Required of Personal Representative
• Limited Appointment of Personal Representative?
• Duties of Personal Representatives

Section 8. Probate Procedures
• To Docket or Not to Docket?
• Probate Court Forms
• Proof of Death
• Initial Probate Application
• Things for the Judge to Check re: Personal Representatives
• Who are the Heirs?

Section 8. Probate Procedures (cont'd)
• Who are the Heirs? (cont'd)
• Summary of Common Errors on Initial Application
• Pro Se Applicant Errors
• Attorney Errors
• Initial Probate Order
• Testate Orders
• Intestate Orders
• How to Issue Letters
• Appendix 1: Checklist of New Mexico Informal Probate Pleadings

Section 9. Closing the Estate
• Verified Statement
• Summary Administration
• Certificate of the Court
• Formal Closing
• Newly Discovered Property
• Reopening Old Cases for Mistake or Inadvertence

Section 10. Records, Reporting & Fees
• Docket Sheets & Index
• Court Costs and Fees
• Retention & Public Record Requirements for Storing Cases

Section 11. Transferring Cases to District Court
• How to Transfer a Case to District Court
• Reports to District Court

Section 12. Judicial Conduct
• Code of Judicial Conduct
• Ex Parte Communications by Judge with Parties
• Confidentiality v. Public Record
• Unauthorized Practice of Law
• Gender Equality

Section 13. Real Property and Ancillary Property
• Real property as Part of Estate
• Probate Opened in Your County, with Real Property Located in New Mexico,
but Outside of Your County
• Real Property Located Outside of New Mexico
• Manufactured (Mobile) Homes as Part of Estate
• Ancillary Probates

Section 14. Miscellaneous Topics
• Special Administrators
• More than Three Years since Decedent’s Death
• Agreements Among Successors, Section 45-3-912
• Disclaimer Statutes
• Family/Personal Property Allowances
• Omitted Spouse and Children
• Small Estate Affidavits
• Transfer of Homestead Affidavits
• Collection of Decedent’s Final Paycheck
• Creditors Claims
• Sample Affidavits

Section 15. Wedding Ceremonies
• Who May Perform Weddings
• Marriage License Required
• Limit on Fees for Performing Weddings
• Ceremony
• Certain Marriages Restricted or Prohibited

Section 16. Safety Valves

Section 17. Communicating with the Public
• Available only in Paper Version

Safety Valves for Probate Judges

  • Use the Henderson forms (see Resources) or pro se forms as templates, i.e., compare the submitted paperwork to the forms.
  • Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 21-300(B)(7)(b) allows you to obtain the advice of a disinterested expert on the applicable law without giving notice to the parties involved, see Rule 21-901(C)(1)(c)
  • Section 45-3-305 says you can decline application for any reason.
  • Section 45-3-309 says you can decline application for appointment of personal representative for any reason.
  • If people complain about why you are doing or not doing something, tell them that you
    are a court of limited jurisdiction and that you have sworn to follow the constitution and laws of New Mexico.


Copyright Institute of Public Law
Judicial Education Center
MSC11 6060
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
505-277-5006
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