New Mexico was one of the last states to join the Union, in early 1912 though there have been various European settlers in the area from as early as 1598.
In the state of New Mexico, birth records are confidential and not released to the general public. The only people who can make a request for a New Mexico birth record are the immediate family, as well as the person themselves who is on the record. The allowed relationships are parent, child, sibling, current spouse (not divorced) and grandparents. Paternal grandparents may only apply if the father is listed by name on the birth record in the first place.
If you meet those requirements, you can fill out a form and make a request for a certified copy of a New Mexico birth record from the vital records office. The cost is $10 USD for each copy, and you can pay in either a check or money order that has been issued to "New Mexico Vital Records."
You can either make your request by mail or deliver the forms in person at their office. Mailed in record requests can take about a month to get back to you, and most counter service requests are issued while you wait. If you are there too late in the afternoon, you may have to return the next day.
There are two offices with counter service for getting New Mexico birth records, one in Santa Fe (1105 South Saint Francis Drive) and one in Albuquerque (1111 Stanford NE). They are both open during usual business hours. If you choose to mail your applications in, the address is New Mexico Vital Records, PO Box 26110, Santa Fe NM, 87502 USA.
You will need to put your application together, including the form, your fee and any identification documents you need. You have to supply a clear photocopy of your own government-issued photo ID. The forms are available on the New Mexico Department of Health website (http://www.vitalrecordsnm.org/Forms/birthsearchapp.pdf) and they call for the usual identifying information about the record you are seeking. You need the full name of the person, their date of birth and place of birth, and their parent's full names. If you can't download the form, you can send a letter with the required information as well.
You also have to identify yourself and provide full contact information including your street address even if you use a PO box for mail. You also need to indicate what your relationship is to the person of record and why you are making this request.
The New Mexico birth records go back to at least 1907 for the state collection, and possibly farther back to the 1880s in some counties. You can contact the local county registrar's office where the birth took place if you are trying to locate records earlier than the state collection. The state archives for New Mexico (http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/archives_hm.htm) also has a number of indexed collections of documents that may help you in your search for specific birth information beyond what the state can supply.
Take these steps to order New Mexico birth certificates by mail:
Step 1.
To apply for a New Mexico birth certificate, you should complete a New Mexico Birth Certificate application.
Step 2.
State laws require you to include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with your request.
Step 3.
Return your application and identification by mail to the Vital Records Office. You will need to include a check or money order covering the $10 search fee. It will take approximately 4 weeks to process your request.
If you have further questions regarding accessing New Mexico birth records, you can contact the Department of Health:
New Mexico Department of Health
New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
(505) 827-0121
Applying For New Mexico Birth Records
New Mexico birth records can be used for identification. If you need to access a copy of yours, then you can apply for New Mexico birth records through the New Mexico Department of Health. Keep in mind that birth records are considered restricted access records, meaning that they are not open to the public.
How You Can Place An Order
There are multiple ways that you can place an order for New Mexico birth records. You can visit the Department of Health in person or you can send them a request by mail. There is also the option to use an online expedited service for an additional fee.
Restricted Access Records
New Mexico birth records are considered to be restricted access records. This means that only the person named on the record and their immediate family will have access. Proof of identity is required. All other requests must be able to demonstrate a legal right to the record.
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