Lea County, New Mexico Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Lea County, New Mexico are collected by the Lea County Probate Court in Lovington according to New Mexico's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. New Mexico's court structure — District Court (civil/family) / Probate Court (county-level) / Magistrate Court (small claims/limited civil) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Lea County Probate Court operates as a moderate-volume court. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full New Mexico court filing fee schedule, see our New Mexico Court Filing Fees.

The Fifth Judicial District Court (Lea County) is located at 100 N Main Ave, Lovington, NM 88260. The court clerk can be reached at (575) 396-8571.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions. Electronic filing is available.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

• Filing fees in Lea County are based on New Mexico's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $50–$100 (Probate Court) / $30–$90 (District Court — Probate)
• civil complaints and appearances — $132–$197 (District Court) / $24–$36 (Magistrate Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $132–$197 (District Court — Domestic Relations)
• small claims filings — $24–$36 (Magistrate Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Lea County Probate Court in Lovington may include additional local charges.

The clerk's office at the Lea County Probate Court in Lovington can confirm whether any local assessments apply beyond the state statutory base fee.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Lea County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in New Mexico), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Lea County, request the full fee schedule from the Lea County Probate Court clerk in Lovington before initiating the proceeding.

New Mexico is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Lea County Probate Court in Lovington may still accept or require paper filings for some case types.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our New Mexico Court Filing Fees.

• Lea County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under N.M.
• Stat.
• Ann. § 34-6-5.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Lea County Probate Court clerk's office in Lovington at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Lea County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in N.M.
• Stat.
• Ann. § 34-6-5 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Lea County Probate Court clerk in Lovington for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Lea County Probate Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Lea County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.