How to Find New Mexico Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths New Mexico Deaths

New Mexico's earliest settlement, San Juan, was established in 1598. In 1850 New Mexico became a territory of the United States and a state in 1912. County registration of deaths was required in 1907 and statewide registration began in 1920.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Death Records Choose a time period: Before 1906 1906 thru 1949 After 1949 to the present Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1906

New Mexico did not keep records before 1906. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Church Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc)	Cemetery Records Census Bible Records

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Deaths from 1906 thru 1949

• 1906 - A few New Mexico cities and counties started keeping death records
• 1920 - New Mexico statewide death registration began

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below try searching for death information in other records.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

New Mexico Deaths Indexes
Try:
	1889–1945 - New Mexico, Deaths	Free; At FamilySearch: A very few records start before 1906, dates vary by county. Records are more complete after 1919.
Try:
	1899–1945 - New Mexico Death Index Project	Free; At New Mexico GenWeb: Two indexes, 1899-1940 and 1941-1949. Click on the correct range of surnames.
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

With the exact date of death from your records or from an index you may look at films from the Family History Library or order the certificate from New Mexico.

Family History Microfilms for New Mexico Deaths
1889–1942 - Certificate and Record of Death	Free; at Family History Library in Salt Lake City or minimal rental fee at a FamilySearch Center near you.
1927–1945 - New Mexico Death Certificates	Free; at Family History Library in Salt Lake City or minimal rental fee at a FamilySearch Center near you.
Order Certificates from New Mexico				1899–Present - New Mexico Department of Health.	$; The death certificates may be obtained through the Department of Health. "Death certificates become public records fifty (50) years after the date of death."
Other records with death information

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Deaths after 1949

PART A: You know the exact date of death

With an exact date (from your records), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

Order New Mexico Deaths Certificates
1899–Present - New Mexico Department of Health.	$; The death certificates may be obtained through the department of health. They are restricted to immediate family members.

See list of restrictions for ordering death records.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of death

Try:
Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
	1937 to present at Genealogy Bank	Free; most current version; few records before 1962; gives place where the last benefit was sent
Don't want to order the death record?		Search other records with death information

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Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records

Restrictions for obtaining certificates of persons who died within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:

• The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
• The current spouse of the person on the certificate
• The child or grandchild of the person on the certificate
• The sibling of the person on the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

• You will need to list the reason why you want the death certificate.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

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