Bernalillo County Clerk Records

What the Bernalillo County Clerk Does

The County Clerk is an elected official. The current clerk is Michelle S. Kavanaugh, identified on the official county election results site, which states her pledge to keep records accurate and easily accessible to the public. The County Clerk landing page is the entry point for the office's services. The official county job description lays out the role in detail.

The Clerk serves as recorder of the county, chief election officer, clerk of the Probate Court for informal proceedings, and secretary to the Board of County Commissioners. The office also acts as notary public, administers oaths, and certifies acknowledgments, declarations, instruments, and protests. Election duties include receiving nominations and petitions, preparing ballots, maintaining voting machines, recruiting and training poll workers, and overseeing elections in the county.

Records the County Clerk Keeps

The Clerk's records are the county's recorded and election documents, not court case files. People who need a recorded deed, a marriage record, or election data come here. People who need a lawsuit, a divorce decree, or a criminal file go to the courts instead.

• Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land instruments.
• Marriage licenses and recorded marriage records.
• Election results, voter registration, and election records.
• Board of County Commissioners records and meeting documents.
• Informal probate clerking and over-the-counter probate filings.
• Notary, oath, and certification records.

The Clerk also helps title companies, banks, and government agencies that need recorded information for property transfers. For court case files, see Bernalillo County court records and the Clerk of the Second Judicial District Court.

County Clerk Contact and Office

The County Clerk's office handles recording, marriage licenses, and elections for the whole county. Confirm the current public counter location and hours before a visit, since county offices move between downtown buildings.

Note: Confirm the County Clerk's current public-counter address, hours, and accepted payment methods before you go, because the office's published details change over time.

Marriage Licenses Through the Clerk

Marriage licenses are one of the most-requested County Clerk services. New Mexico does not route the license through a court, and there is no waiting period for the license itself. Both applicants generally appear in person with valid photo identification, complete the application, and pay the license fee. After the ceremony, the signed license returns to the Clerk for recording, and certified copies are requested from this office.

An indexed county fee schedule lists a certified copy of a marriage license at $3.00 per copy, but the current marriage license application method, ID rules, age requirements, and fees should be confirmed with the Clerk before applying. For the full marriage and divorce breakdown, including the court side of divorce records, see the marriage and divorce records page.

Recording and Property Documents

As county recorder, the Clerk records and indexes documents that affect real property and other legal interests. A recorded document becomes part of the public chain of title, which is why title companies and lenders rely on the Clerk's index. Deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, and similar instruments are recorded here.

The office's job description specifically lists assistance to title companies, financial institutions, and government agencies with property transfers. The recorded index is the starting point for a property history search. Recording fees and copy fees apply and should be confirmed with the Clerk, since recording fees are set by the county and the state and change periodically. For property valuation rather than ownership documents, the Bernalillo County Assessor is the right office.

How to Request a Recorded Document

Most recorded documents are public, and the Clerk's recorded index is searchable for deeds and other instruments. The cleanest way to get a copy is to identify the document first, then ask the recording division for a plain or certified copy.

1. Search the Clerk's recorded index by name or document type.
2. Note the recording reference, such as the book and page or instrument number.
3. Ask the recording division for a plain or certified copy.
4. Pay the copy fee with the office's accepted payment method.
5. Receive the copy, with the Clerk's seal if certified.

The figures above were not all confirmed against the live Clerk fee page during research, so check the current schedule with the office before you pay. The official County Clerk job description confirms the recording and probate-clerking duties behind these services.

Elections and County Records

The Clerk is the chief election officer for Bernalillo County. The office runs voter registration, prepares ballots, maintains voting machines, recruits and trains poll workers, and posts results through the official election results site. Election records and results are public, and the results portal is the fastest place to see counts after an election.

The Clerk also serves as secretary to the Board of County Commissioners and keeps the board's records, including votes and payment orders. Those records fall under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act like other county records. For the broader open-records framework and how to file a request, see the Bernalillo County public records page.

County Clerk vs Clerk of Court

Bernalillo County has two clerks, and the names look almost the same. The difference is simple once you see it side by side. The County Clerk handles county recording and elections. The Clerk of Court handles court case files. A request sent to the wrong one bounces, so the table below sorts the common records.

That split is the single most useful thing to know about Bernalillo County records. When in doubt, ask whether the record came out of a county recording or out of a court case. The first goes to the County Clerk; the second goes to the Clerk of Court.

Related Bernalillo County Records

For court case files, see court records and the Clerk of the Second Judicial District Court. For marriage and divorce, see marriage and divorce records. For estates, see probate records. For open-records requests, see public records.