Judgments – Foreign Judgments – New Mexico

Short title.
This act [39-4A-1 to 39-4A-6 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the “Foreign Judgments Act”.  Chap. 39, Art. 4-A, §39-4A-1.

Definitions.
As used in the Foreign Judgments Act [39-4A-1 to 39-4A-6 NMSA 1978] “foreign judgment” means any judgment, decree or order of a court of the United States or of any other court which is entitled to full faith and credit in this state.  Chap. 39, Art. 4-A, §39-4A-2.

Filing and status of foreign judgments.

A.  A copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with an act of congress or the statutes of this state may be filed in the office of the clerk of the district court of any county of this state in which the judgment debtor resides or has any property or property rights subject to execution, foreclosure, attachment or garnishment.  The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of the district court of this state. A judgment so filed shall have the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating, staying, enforcing or satisfying as a judgment of the district court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner, except as provided in Subsection B of this section.
B.  All property in this state of a judgment debtor is exempt from execution issuing from a foreign judgment filed pursuant to Subsection A of this section that is in favor of any state for failure to pay that state’s income tax on benefits received from a pension or other retirement plan.  Chap. 39, Art. 4-A, §39-4A-3.

Notice of filing.

A.  At the time of the filing of the foreign judgment, the judgment creditor or his lawyer shall make and file with the clerk of the district court an affidavit setting forth the name and last known address of the judgment debtor and the judgment creditor.
B.  Promptly upon the filing of the foreign judgment and the affidavit, the clerk of the district court shall mail a notice of the filing of the Foreign judgment to the judgment debtor at the address given and shall make a note of the mailing in the docket. The notice shall include the name and address of the judgment creditor and his attorney, if any, in this state.  In addition, the judgment creditor shall mail a notice of the filing of the judgment to the judgment debtor, certified mail, and shall file proof of the mailing with the clerk.
C.  No execution or other process for enforcement of a foreign judgment filed pursuant to this section shall issue until twenty days after the date the judgment is filed.  Chap. 39, Art. 4-A, §39-4A-4.

Stay.

A.  If the judgment debtor shows the district court that a stay of execution has been granted, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment until the appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires or the stay of execution expires or is vacated, upon proof that the judgment debtor has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the judgment required by the state in which it was rendered.
B.  If the judgment debtor shows the district court sufficient grounds upon which enforcement of a judgment of any district court of this state would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment for an appropriate period, upon requiring the same security for satisfaction that is required in this state.  Chap. 39, Art. 4-A, §39-4A-5.

Optional procedure.
The right of a judgment creditor to bring an action to enforce his judgment instead of proceeding under the Foreign Judgments Act [39-4A-1 to 39-4A-6 NMSA 1978] remains unimpaired.  Chap. 39, Art. 4-A, §39-4A-6.