Civil Court cases involve disputes between individuals, businesses, or state or local government. 

These disputes can involve automobiles or other accidents, personal injury or property damage, medical malpractice, breach of contract, landlord tenant relations, real estate or other property rights, student loans, taxes and violations of, or objections to, state or local ordinances or other regulations, or appeals from Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court cases.  Other cases involve administrative matters such as name changes, driver’s license restoration following DWI rehabilitation, probate or administration of estates of deceased persons (with or without a will), and guardianship/conservatorships of minor or of incapacitated adults.

The Civil Clerk’s Office is responsible for processing all new complaints or petitions, responses and any subsequent motions that are filed in these cases, as well as for collecting related fees.  Verifying case information, case status and court hearings are services also provided by the Clerk’s Office.  Clerks are not authorized to give any legal advice.  Limited assistance is available through the Center for Self Help and Dispute Resolution for those individuals who choose to appear on their own behalf (pro se) without attorney representation.

Cases are randomly assigned to and heard by one of ten Judges.  Due to the large number of civil cases filed in this District, parties sometimes wait several months or longer to come before a judge.  In some situations, parties can reduce the time and expense of a court case by using Dispute Resolution.