Rule 8-208 NMRA
Rule 8-208. Service and filing of pleadings and other papers.
A. Service; when required. Unless the court otherwise orders, every pleading
subsequent to the citation or complaint, every written order, every paper relating to
conditions of release or bond, every paper relating to discovery, every written motion
other than one which may be heard ex parte, and every written notice, demand, and
similar paper shall be served upon each of the parties.
B. Service; how made. When service is required or permitted to be made upon a
party represented by an attorney, the service shall be made upon the attorney unless
service upon the party is ordered by the court. Service upon the attorney or upon a
party shall be made by delivering a copy to the attorney or party, or by mailing a copy to
the attorney or party at the attorney’s or party’s last known address. Service by mail is
complete upon mailing.
C. Definitions. As used in this rule:
(1)
“Delivering a copy” means:
(a) handing it to the attorney or to the party;
(b) sending a copy by facsimile or electronic transmission when permitted by
Rule 8-209 NMRA or Rule 8-210 NMRA;
(c) leaving it at the attorney’s or party’s office with a clerk or other person in
charge, or, if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place in the office;
(d) if the attorney’s or party’s office is closed or the person to be served has
no office, leaving it at the person’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with some
person of suitable age and discretion then residing there; or
(e) leaving it at a location designated by the court for serving papers on
attorneys, if the following requirements are met:
(i)
the court, in its discretion, chooses to provide such a location; and
(ii)
service by this method has been authorized by the attorney, or by
the attorney’s firm, organization, or agency on behalf of the attorney.
(2)
“Mailing a copy” means sending a copy by first class mail with proper
postage.
D. Filing by a party; certificate of service. All papers after the citation or
complaint required to be served upon a party, together with a certificate or affidavit of
service indicating the date and method of service, shall be filed with the court within a
reasonable time after service.
E. Filing with the court defined. The filing of papers with the court as required by
these rules shall be made by filing them with the clerk of the court, except that the judge
may permit the papers to be filed with the judge, in which event the judge shall note on
the papers the filing date and forthwith transmit them to the office of the clerk. “Filing”
shall include filing a facsimile copy or filing an electronic copy as may be permitted
under Rule 8-209 NMRA or Rule 8-210 NMRA. If a party has filed a paper using
electronic or facsimile transmission, that party shall not subsequently submit a duplicate
paper copy to the court. The clerk shall not refuse to accept for filing any paper
presented for that purpose solely because it is not presented in proper form as required
by these rules or any local rules or practices, except as provided in Paragraph A of Rule
8-201 NMRA, which prohibits the filing of an unsigned citation or complaint.
F. Proof of service. Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by order of
court, proof of service shall be made by the certificate of an attorney of record, or if
made by any other person, by the affidavit of such person. Such certificate or affidavit
shall be filed with the clerk or endorsed on the pleading, motion, or other paper required
to be served.
G. Filing of motions. Whenever, by these rules, a party is required to “move” within
a specified time or a motion is required to be “made” within a specified time, the motion
shall be deemed to be made at the time it is filed or at the time it is served, whichever is
earlier.
H. Filing and service by the court. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the
court shall serve all written court orders and notices of hearing on the parties. The court
may file papers before serving them on the parties. For papers served by the court, the
certificate of service need not indicate the method of service. For purposes of Rule 8-
104(C) NMRA, papers served by the court shall be deemed served by mail, regardless
of the actual manner of service, unless the court’s certificate of service unambiguously
states otherwise. The court may, in its discretion, serve papers in accordance with the
method described in Subparagraph (C)(1)(e) of this rule.
I. Filing and service by an inmate. The following provisions apply to documents
filed and served by an inmate confined to an institution:
(1)
If an institution has a system designed for legal mail, the inmate shall use
that internal mail system to receive the benefit of this rule.
(2)
The document is timely filed if deposited in the institution’s internal mail
system within the time permitted for filing.
(3)
Whenever service of a document on a party is permitted by mail, the
document is deemed mailed when deposited in the institution’s internal mail system
addressed to the parties on whom the document is served.
(4)
The date of filing or mailing may be shown by a written statement, made
under penalty of perjury, showing the date when the document was deposited in the
institution’s internal mail system.
(5)
A written statement under Subparagraph (4) of this paragraph establishes
a presumption that the document was filed or mailed on the date indicated in the written
statement. The presumption may be rebutted by documentary or other evidence.
(6)
Whenever an act must be done within a prescribed period after a
document has been filed or served under this paragraph, that period shall begin to run
on the date the document is received by the party.