To obtain a legal name change in New Mexico, an applicant must submit a petition to the court. Before filing the petition, the applicant must publish notice of the petition at least once a week for two weeks; the publication requirement can be waived for the applicant’s safety. (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 40-8-1 to 40-8-3).
To help guide applicants through the process a New Mexico Name and Gender Change Guide is available in English and Spanish, brought to you by the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Cooley LLP.
For instructions on legal name changes for minors under 18 in New Mexico, see NCTE's Name Changes for Minors in New Mexico resource.