In New Mexico, in order for the delivery of a lease termination or eviction notice to be legal, certain rules and procedures must be followed. If they are not and the case proceeds to court, the case may be postponed or dismissed by a judge.
Who Can Serve Eviction Notices in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, landlords can serve eviction notices and lease termination notices themselves. Landlords may choose to hire a sheriff, process server or independent party over eighteen (18) years old to serve an official notice, but they are not required to do so by law.
When Can Eviction Notices Be Served in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, lease termination and eviction notices can be served immediately on any day of the week and at any time of day.
For a 3 Day Notice to Quit for nonpayment of rent, the eviction notice for tenants that do not pay rent in full and on time, a landlord can serve notice the day after rent is due. There is no legal grace period for paying rent in New Mexico, rent is late starting the day after it’s due.
Acceptable Forms of Service in New Mexico
New Mexico landlords may deliver a written eviction notice by any method which results in actual notice to the other party. The law specifically guarantees the legal effectiveness of the following methods:
- Hand delivery to the tenant
- Delivery by first class mail with a certificate of mailing, to the tenant’s address of record (or last known residence, if there is no address of record)
- Posting the notice on an exterior door of the premises, PLUS either hand-delivering the notice OR delivering it by first class mail with a certificate of mailing
Posted notice must be placed in a box or slot designed for mail or notices, or else taped on all sides to ensure secure fixture. Posting a notice starts the count on the notice period, even if (for example) the mailed notice takes a few more days to deliver.
Obtaining Proof of Service in New Mexico
Landlords can show proof that the notice was delivered through the following methods:
- Hand Delivery – by completing a Declaration of Service at the time of delivery
- Posting at the Premises – by taking a photograph and completing a Declaration of Service at the time of posting
- First Class Mail – by keeping the certificate of mailing and completing a Declaration of Service at the time of mailing
New Mexico Eviction and Lease Termination Notice Forms
| Notice Form | Grounds |
| 3 Day Notice To Quit | Eviction for Unpaid Rent |
| 7 Day Notice To Comply or Vacate | Eviction for Lease Violation |
| 7 Day Notice To Vacate | Eviction for Repeat Lease Violation |
| 3 Day Notice To Vacate | Eviction for Illegal Activity |
| 7 Day Notice To Terminate Tenancy | Ending a Weekly Lease |
| 30 Day Notice To Vacate | Ending a Monthly / Yearly Lease |
Sources
- 1 N.M. Stat. § 47-8-13(C) - (E)
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C. A person receives a notice or notification: (1) when it comes to his attention; (2) where written notice to the owner is required, when it is mailed or otherwise delivered at the place of business of the owner through which the rental agreement was made or at any place held out by him as the place for receipt of the communication; or (3) if written notice to the resident is required, when it is delivered in hand to the resident or mailed to him at the place held out by him as the place for receipt of the communication, or in the absence of such designation, to his last known place of residence. D. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, notice to a resident for nonpayment of rent shall be effective only when hand delivered or mailed to the resident or posted on an exterior door of the dwelling unit. In all other cases where written notice to the resident is required, even if there is a notice by posting, there must also be a mailing of the notice by first class mail or hand delivery of the notice to the resident. The date of a posting shall be included in any notice posted, mailed or hand delivered, and shall constitute the effective date of the notice. A posted notice shall be affixed to a door by taping all sides or placed in a fixture or receptacle designed for notices or mail. E. Notice, knowledge or a notice or notification received by the resident or person is effective for a particular transaction from the time it is brought to the attention of the resident or person conducting that transaction, and in any event from the time it would have been brought to the resident’s or person’s attention if the resident or person had exercised reasonable diligence. Source Link
