Grant County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Grant County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Grant County, New Mexico may access a range of publicly available information through GrantCountyRecords.us, which aggregates data related to county-level records. Public records in Grant County encompass documents created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business, and the availability of specific records may vary depending on the custodial office and the nature of the document. Requestors may find records pertaining to the following categories:
- Court filings and case histories
- Property deeds, liens, and assessments
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Business licenses and permits
- Tax and assessment records
- Voting and election records
- Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
- Land use, zoning, and planning documents
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Budget and financial documents
Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.
Online Access: Members of the public may search court case information through the New Mexico Courts case lookup portal, which provides access to case records statewide, including those originating in Grant County. The Sixth Judicial District Court public records page serves Grant County, Hidalgo County, and Luna County and provides guidance on submitting Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) requests electronically. No registration is required to search basic case information through the state court portal.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Grant County Clerk's Office to inspect property records, vital records, and other county-maintained documents. The office is located at 201 N. Cooper Street, Silver City, NM 88061. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the records custodian of the relevant office. Under NMSA § 14-2-8, the custodian must respond to a written request within fifteen business days. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, and a reasonably specific description of the records sought.
Phone/Email:
- Grant County Clerk: (575) 574-0042
- Sixth Judicial District Court: (575) 574-1800
- New Mexico Secretary of State (election records): sos.elections@state.nm.us
Official IPRA request forms for court records are available through the New Mexico Courts IPRA portal.
What Are Public Records in Grant County?
Public records in Grant County are defined under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, codified at NMSA § 14-2-1 et seq., as all documents, papers, letters, books, maps, tapes, photographs, recordings, and other materials regardless of physical form or characteristics that are made or received by a government agency in connection with the transaction of public business. The following record types are currently maintained by Grant County agencies:
| Record Type | Custodial Office |
|---|---|
| Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family) | Sixth Judicial District Court |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Grant County Clerk |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) | Grant County Clerk / NM Vital Records |
| Business licenses and permits | Grant County Clerk |
| Property tax and assessment records | Grant County Assessor |
| Voting and election records | Grant County Clerk |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Grant County Manager's Office |
| Budget and financial documents | Grant County Finance Office |
| Law enforcement records | Grant County Sheriff / NM DPS |
| Land use and zoning records | Grant County Planning Department |
Historical and archival records may also be accessed through the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, which provides records management services, digital archives, and research appointments for state and county records.
Is Grant County an Open Records County?
Grant County operates in full compliance with New Mexico's statewide open records framework. Under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, NMSA § 14-2-1 through § 14-2-12, all government records are presumed to be open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act establishes that the public policy of New Mexico favors the right of the people to inspect public records.
As stated in the Act, "every person has the right to inspect public records of this state." This provision applies to all county agencies, including those in Grant County. The county does not maintain a separate local ordinance restricting access beyond what state law permits. The New Mexico Secretary of State's public records request guidance further clarifies that requests to inspect public records must be submitted to the records custodian of the relevant agency, and no person is required to state a reason for the inspection request.
New Mexico's open records law functions as the state's equivalent of a sunshine law, ensuring transparency in government operations at both the state and county level. The New Mexico Courts public records framework extends these principles to judicial branch records, covering matters including appeals from the Public Regulation Commission and actions involving public officials.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Grant County?
The current fee structure for public records in Grant County is governed by state law and the policies of individual custodial offices. Under NMSA § 14-2-9, a records custodian may charge a reasonable fee for copying records but may not charge a fee for inspection of records.
Standard fees applicable to Grant County records requests include:
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.25 – $1.00 (varies by office) |
| Certification of records | $1.00 – $5.00 per document |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of duplication media |
| Search fees | Not permitted under state law |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
Accepted payment methods at the Grant County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards; requestors are advised to confirm accepted payment methods with the specific custodial office prior to submitting a request. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodian.
Does Grant County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in Grant County pursuant to state law. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the custodial office without charge. The following resources provide free access to public records:
- Grant County Clerk's Office – Free in-person inspection of property records, vital records indexes, and county commission documents at 201 N. Cooper Street, Silver City, NM 88061
- Sixth Judicial District Court – Free in-person inspection of court case files; the court's IPRA request system also allows electronic submission at no cost
- NM Courts Case Lookup – The statewide case search tool provides free online access to court case information without registration
- New Mexico State Records Center and Archives – The state archives provides free research access to historical government records during scheduled appointments
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no charge, physical or electronic copies are subject to the fee schedule described above. Certain records, such as voter registration information provided to candidates and political parties, may be subject to separate statutory fee provisions.
Who Can Request Public Records in Grant County?
Any person may request public records in Grant County. Under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, eligibility to request records is not restricted by residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. Requestors are not required to:
- Be a resident of New Mexico or Grant County
- Provide government-issued identification (for general inspection requests)
- State the purpose of the request
- Demonstrate a personal interest in the records sought
As affirmed by the New Mexico Courts IPRA guidance, "no person requesting records shall be required to state the reason for inspecting public records." This principle applies uniformly across county and state agencies. Non-residents of New Mexico retain the same rights to inspect public records as residents.
Certain record types carry additional access restrictions regardless of who is requesting. Juvenile court records, sealed case files, and records containing protected personal information require the requestor to demonstrate legal standing or obtain a court order. Individuals requesting their own records from law enforcement agencies may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure.
What Records Are Confidential in Grant County?
Not all government records in Grant County are subject to public disclosure. The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act enumerates specific categories of exempt records. The following records are currently withheld from public inspection under state law:
- Sealed court records – Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible without a court-issued unsealing order
- Juvenile records – Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse and neglect proceedings
- Ongoing investigation records – Law enforcement records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations
- Personal identifying information – Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers embedded in otherwise public documents
- Medical and health records – Protected under both state law and federal HIPAA provisions
- Adoption records – Sealed by statute and accessible only through court petition
- Child welfare and protective services records – Maintained as confidential by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
- Personnel records – Employee records of public agencies, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions involving public officials
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information – Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details – Withheld to protect public safety
The NM Department of Public Safety maintains law enforcement records through its Law Enforcement Records Bureau and applies these exemptions when processing requests for incident reports and arrest records. Requestors who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek review through the New Mexico Attorney General's Office or pursue relief in district court.
Grant County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Grant County Clerk's Office 201 N. Cooper Street Silver City, NM 88061 (575) 574-0042 Grant County Clerk
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed on state and federal holidays
Grant County Assessor's Office 201 N. Cooper Street Silver City, NM 88061 (575) 574-0030 Grant County Assessor
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sixth Judicial District Court – Grant County 201 N. Cooper Street Silver City, NM 88061 (575) 574-1800 Sixth Judicial District Court
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Grant County Sheriff's Office 1400 Hwy 180 East Silver City, NM 88061 (575) 574-0025 Grant County Sheriff
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Records Division)
New Mexico State Records Center and Archives 1205 Camino Carlos Rey Santa Fe, NM 87507 (505) 476-7900 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Lookup Public Records in Grant County
- New Mexico Courts case search
- Sixth Judicial District Court IPRA requests for Grant County
- New Mexico Courts public records access
- New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
- New Mexico Secretary of State public records request
- New Mexico Courts IPRA online request portal
- NM Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Records Bureau