How to Find Birth Records in New Mexico

The registering of birth records across the United States by every state has enabled individuals and genealogists to be able to find and track family history. However, every state has its own way to register and find birth records. This guide will help you on how to find birth records in New Mexico.

New Mexico, which is found in the Southwestern part of the United States, has a population of about 2.1 million. Registration of birth in the state began in 1907 and total compliance was achieved around 1930. However, there are births that were recorded before 1907 which were done by the state or county. There are a few counties that have these records as some entities like churches kept these records. One source for such birth records is New Mexico (1726 – 1918).

Birth Records in New Mexico

The registration of birth records in New Mexico is emphasized for numerous reasons. With birth records individuals are able to use them in the acquisition of passports, driver’s license, social security, school registration, identity verification and citizenship proof. They are an essential means of identification.

In New Mexico, birth records that are less than a 100 years are restricted from public access. Only eligible individuals are allowed access to them. Once the records are over 100 years, anyone interested in obtaining them can do so freely.

Information contained in a typical New Mexico birth record include the following:

• Registrant’s full name
• Date of birth
• Date of birth registration
• Gender/ Sex
• Place of birth
• Parents’ full names
• Mother’s maiden name

Birth records that occurred within the jurisdiction of New Mexico are managed by the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS). After a birth is registered in New Mexico, certified copies of the birth record are made accessible to the record owner and all others who are eligible to it upon request.

Birth Records Restrictions in New Mexico

Those eligible to have access to birth records within the last 100 years in New Mexico include the following:

• The individual on the certificate
• The parent or grandparent of the individual listed on the certificate (paternal grandparent is authorized if father is registered on the vital record)
• The spouse of the individual listed on the certificate
• The child of the individual listed on the certificate
• The sibling of the individual listed on the certificate
• The legal guardian of the individual listed on the certificate
• Any person who has legal interest in the certificate

Eligible applicants can request birth records online in New Mexico, preferably from authorized third party vital records websites.

Records that are more than 100 years are considered public records and can be accessed from third party websites much easier. Third party sites are not limited in terms of technological ability and search scope. They can search across the whole country for information. That is why you will need to provide information like full name of the record owner plus location (city, county, state) when searching from them. This will help in eliminating unwanted results from your search.

However, third party sites’ data might differ from government sources as they are not government sponsored bodies.

Get Birth Records in New Mexico

Birth Records Before 1920

Searches for records registered in New Mexico before 1914 should try searching from State Records Center and Archives (SRCA). There are records from this Center that have aggregated from numerous sources during this time. They are available as microfilm and are accessible to interested individuals.

Certified copies of these birth records can be obtained after filling in the Conditions of Publication/ Reproduction Form which can be submitted through mail or in person to the following address:

New Mexico State Records and Archives
1205 Camino Carlos Rey
Santa Fe, NM 87507

Birth Records After 1920

Birth records registered in New Mexico after 1920 until the present can be found at Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS). Certified copies of birth records in New Mexico can also be obtained from some Local County Health Departments. Individuals who are interested in obtaining these records should first fill in the Birth Records Search Application or write a letter containing the following details and send it to the BVRHS:

• Name of the person on the birth record
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Mother’s name (maiden name included)
• Father’s full name
• Relationship to the person on the records (if requesting on person’s behalf)
• Reason for interest in the birth certificate
• Requester’s name and signature
• Mailing address

New Mexico Birth Records that are Less than 100 Years

As mentioned before, records that are less than a 100 years are accessible by eligible people only. Those eligible individuals are required to provide the following documents as proof of identity:

• Valid government-issued driver’s license
• Valid government-issued identification card
• Passport
• Mexican matricula
• Military ID
• Foreign passport w/visa and I‐94

All in all, the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics is the one tasked with managing and issuing birth records in New Mexico. Applicants can request their birth records in person and by mail from it.

With these ideas on how to find birth records in New Mexico at hand, you can land any birth record in the state from the time birth records began being registered to the present.