New Mexico Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
If you are handling a divorce, custody, support or protective order case in New Mexico on your own, start with the free help that already exists. This page lists, for each of the 33 counties, the court's self-help program and the free legal aid office that serves it, with phone numbers and websites.
Statewide: New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Official state courts hub with free instructions, forms, and a helpline for your own case.
Bernalillo County: court help from Center for Self Help and Dispute Resolution, phone (505) 841-6702, email albdselfhelp@nmcourts.gov. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Albuquerque, Edgewood, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Tijeras.
Catron County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Reserve.
Chaves County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, and Roswell.
Cibola County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Grants and Milan.
Colfax County: court help from The Help Desk, phone (575) 751-8634. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Angel Fire, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Maxwell, Raton, and Springer.
Curry County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Clovis, Grady, Melrose, and Texico.
De Baca County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Fort Sumner.
Doña Ana County: court help from Third Judicial District Court Self-Help Center, phone (575) 528-8399. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Anthony, Hatch, Las Cruces, Mesilla, and Sunland Park.
Eddy County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Artesia, Carlsbad, Hope, and Loving.
Grant County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Bayard, Hurley, Santa Clara, and Silver City.
Guadalupe County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Santa Rosa and Vaughn.
Harding County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Mosquero and Roy.
Hidalgo County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Lordsburg and Virden.
Lea County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Eunice, Hobbs, Jal, Lovington, and Tatum.
Lincoln County: court help from Twelfth Judicial District Self Help Center, phone (575) 437-7310 ext. 146. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Capitan, Carrizozo, Corona, Ruidoso, and Ruidoso Downs.
Los Alamos County: court help from First Judicial District Court Self-Help Center, phone (505) 455-8250, email sfedselfhelp@nmcourts.gov. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Los Alamos and White Rock.
Luna County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Columbus and Deming.
McKinley County: court help from Eleventh Judicial District Self Help Center, phone (505) 326-2256. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Gallup.
Mora County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Wagon Mound.
Otero County: court help from Twelfth Judicial District Self Help Center, phone (575) 437-7310 ext. 146. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Alamogordo, Cloudcroft, and Tularosa.
Quay County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers House, Logan, San Jon, and Tucumcari.
Rio Arriba County: court help from First Judicial District Court Self-Help Center, phone (505) 455-8250, email sfedselfhelp@nmcourts.gov. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Chama and Española.
Roosevelt County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Causey, Dora, Elida, Floyd, and Portales.
Sandoval County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Bernalillo, Corrales, Cuba, Edgewood, Jemez Springs, Rio Rancho, and San Ysidro.
San Juan County: court help from Eleventh Judicial District Self Help Center, phone (505) 326-2256. Free legal aid from DNA-Peoples Legal Services, phone (928) 871-4151. Covers Aztec, Bloomfield, Farmington, and Kirtland.
San Miguel County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Las Vegas, Mosquero, and Pecos.
Santa Fe County: court help from First Judicial District Court Self-Help Center, phone (505) 455-8250, email sfedselfhelp@nmcourts.gov. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Edgewood, Española, and Santa Fe.
Sierra County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Elephant Butte, Truth or Consequences, and Williamsburg.
Socorro County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Magdalena and Socorro.
Taos County: court help from The Help Desk, phone (575) 751-8634. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Questa, Red River, Taos, and Taos Ski Valley.
Torrance County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Encino, Estancia, Moriarty, Mountainair, and Willard.
Union County: court help from The Help Desk, phone (575) 751-8634. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Clayton, Des Moines, Folsom, and Grenville.
Valencia County: court help from New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid, phone (833) 545-4357. Covers Belen, Bosque Farms, Los Lunas, Peralta, and Rio Communities.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in New Mexico without a lawyer? Start with New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, run by New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, phone (855) 268-7804. 12 of 33 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact New Mexico Legal Aid and DNA-Peoples Legal Services if you qualify by income.
Does every New Mexico county have its own self-help center? No. 12 of 33 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in New Mexico.
Who gives free legal aid in New Mexico? New Mexico is served by 2 federally funded legal aid offices: New Mexico Legal Aid and DNA-Peoples Legal Services. Each one serves set counties, so check the listing for your county. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.
What is a court self-help center? It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.
What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid? A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.
What should I have ready before I call? Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get free help with a family court case in New Mexico without a lawyer?
Start with New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, run by New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, phone (855) 268-7804. 12 of 33 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact New Mexico Legal Aid and DNA-Peoples Legal Services if you qualify by income.
Does every New Mexico county have its own self-help center?
No. 12 of 33 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in New Mexico.
Who gives free legal aid in New Mexico?
New Mexico is served by 2 federally funded legal aid offices: New Mexico Legal Aid and DNA-Peoples Legal Services. Each one serves set counties, so check the listing for your county. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.
What is a court self-help center?
It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.
What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid?
A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.
What should I have ready before I call?
Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.