Quick answer: Opening an estate in New Mexico costs a filing fee that starts around $132 for the probate petition. The small estate affidavit needs no full probate filing at all. Publication and bond are extra. See the full picture in the New Mexico probate cost calculator.
Probate Court fees
| Item | Approx. fee |
|---|---|
| Probate petition (informal) | ~$132+ |
| Small estate affidavit | Not filed as a full probate case |
| Certified copies | A few dollars each |
Confirm the exact fee with your county Probate Court, since additional filings can add to the total.
Other administration costs
- Publication to creditors — newspaper notice once a week for three consecutive weeks, opening a 4-month claim window from first publication (~$100–$200); mailed notice to a known creditor extends that creditor's deadline to 60 days after mailing if later.
- Bond — generally not required in informal probate unless requested by an interested party or the will requires it.
- Appraisal — if real estate or a business must be valued.
- Personal representative & attorney fees — the real variables, both reasonable amounts under §§ 45-3-719 and 45-3-715(21).
Not the big cost: the filing fee is small next to the personal representative and attorney fees. New Mexico has no estate or inheritance tax, so there's no death-tax layer.
Ways to keep court costs down
- Small estate affidavit — entire estate up to $50,000 net, personal property only (NMSA § 45-3-1201).
- Informal probate — the default UPC track, minimal court involvement.
- Ask the Probate Court for the current fee schedule so you budget the exact amount.