N.M. Stat. § 32A-5-8
Confidentiality of records.
A. Unless the petitioner agrees to be contacted or agrees to the release of the
petitioner's identity to the parent and the parent agrees to be contacted or agrees to the
release of the parent's identity to the petitioner, the attorneys, the court, the agency and
the department shall maintain confidentiality regarding the names of the parties, unless
the information is already otherwise known. After the petition is filed and prior to the
entry of the decree, the records in adoption proceedings shall be open to inspection
only by the attorney for the petitioner, the department or the agency, any attorney
appointed as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the adoptee, any attorney retained by
the adoptee or other persons upon order of the court for good cause shown.
B. All records, whether on file with the court, an agency, the department, an
attorney or other provider of professional services in connection with an adoption, are
confidential and may be disclosed only pursuant to the provisions of the Adoption Act.
All information and documentation provided for the purpose of full disclosure is
confidential. Documentation provided for the purpose of full disclosure shall remain the
property of the person making full disclosure when a prospective adoptive parent
decides not to accept a placement. Immediately upon refusal of the placement, the
prospective adoptive parent shall return all full disclosure documentation to the person
providing full disclosure. A prospective adoptive parent shall not disclose any
confidential information received during the full disclosure process, except as necessary
to make a placement decision or to provide information to a child's guardian ad litem or
attorney or the court.
C. All hearings in adoption proceedings shall be confidential and shall be held in
closed court without admittance of any person other than parties and their counsel.
D. A person who intentionally and unlawfully releases any information or records
closed to the public pursuant to the Adoption Act or releases or makes other unlawful
use of records in violation of that act is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be
sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.
E. Prior to the entry of the decree of adoption, the parent consenting to the adoption
or relinquishing parental rights to an agency or the department shall execute an affidavit
stating whether the parent will permit contact or the disclosure of the parent's identity to
the adoptee or the adoptee's prospective adoptive parents.