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Get your security deposit back in New Mexico

Your landlord must act within 30 days after termination under N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18. If they missed it, a statute-cited demand letter is the fastest first move.

30 days
to return or itemize
Penalties
for non-compliance
$29
letter + certified mail, one-time
Start my New Mexico letter →

One flat fee. No subscription. Not a law firm.

What New Mexico law says

Deadline to return / itemizewithin 30 days after termination
StatuteN.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 — read the official text
Itemized deduction statementRequired if any portion is withheld
Exposure for wrongful withholdingNoncompliance forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit AND to assert any counterclaim in a suit to recover it, and makes the landlord liable for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
Worth knowingDeposit capped at one month's rent for leases under a year.

This is general legal information about N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18, not legal advice about your situation. Statutes contain conditions and exceptions, and legislatures amend them — always check the official text linked above.

What that can mean in dollars

Example: $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld → recovery of the withheld amount plus potential attorney’s fees; missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord’s right to keep any of it.

Most landlords understand this math, which is why a letter that cites N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 and states the deadline they missed is often enough to get a check without going to court.

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How your New Mexico letter works

1. Answer a few questions

Your deposit amount, move-out date, landlord's address, and what happened. About 3 minutes.

2. We prepare the letter

A formal demand letter citing N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18, the 30-day deadline, and the remedies the statute provides.

3. We mail it certified

Printed and sent by USPS Certified Mail with tracking — your proof of delivery if this ends up in small claims court.

Start my letter — $29

New Mexico deposit questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Mexico?
Under N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18, the landlord generally must act within 30 days after termination. If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized written statement of deductions is required. This is general legal information — the statute contains conditions and exceptions.
What happens if my landlord misses the New Mexico deadline?
Noncompliance forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit AND to assert any counterclaim in a suit to recover it, and makes the landlord liable for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. A written demand letter that cites N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 puts the landlord on notice that you know the deadline has passed and what the statute allows you to pursue.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in New Mexico?
No. A demand letter is something any tenant can send on their own behalf. Our service prepares the letter from the facts you provide and the current text of N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18, and mails it by USPS Certified Mail so you have proof of delivery. If your dispute is complex or high-value, talking to a licensed New Mexico attorney is a sensible next step — many take deposit cases because several statutes shift attorney's fees to the landlord.