2021 New Mexico Statutes
Article 4 - Townsites
Section 19-4-21 - [Adverse claims; litigation.]

In case there shall be adverse claimants to such lands, or to any part, parcel or share thereof, either party may bring a suit against the adverse claimant or claimants, in the district court of the judicial district, or in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the lands shall be situated, or in any county to which the county in which such lands shall be situated is attached for judicial purposes: provided, always, that no judge of the district court, or county judge, who has been an adverse claimant, directly or indirectly, of any portion of the lands embraced within such towns, or who is a party to any action brought to determine a right to a conveyance of any portion of the lands within such town, shall entertain, hear or determine any such claims, by or between any parties whomsoever; but in all such cases, if the cause shall be pending in a district court, the judge thereof shall order all papers, with a transcript of the record in the cause, to be transmitted to another judicial district, as in cases of changes of venue, and if the cause shall be pending in a county court, the judge thereof shall order all papers, with a transcript of the record, to be transmitted to the district court of said county, and the cause shall proceed in the courts to which the same is removed as if originally instituted in that court: provided, also, that the laws applicable to a change of venue, shall apply to such actions: and provided, also, that nothing in this chapter shall prevent the district or probate judge of the district or county in which such lands are situated from executing any and all conveyances of such lands, pursuant to the determination of such action. Suits shall be brought against adverse claimants or defendants, and it shall not be necessary to make the judge, or corporate authorities, parties thereto. The complaint must show what interest or estate in the lands in controversy the plaintiff claims. The answer, pleadings and other proceedings shall be as in cases in chancery, except that oral testimony may be introduced upon the trial, and the evidence, if not in the form of depositions, shall be reduced to writing, certified by the judge and filed with the papers in the cause.
History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 15; C.L. 1884, § 2789; C.L. 1897, § 3993; Code 1915, § 5534; C.S. 1929, § 144-122; 1941 Comp., § 8-522; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-22.
Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
Compiler's notes. — The words "this chapter" were inserted by the 1915 Code compilers, and referred to Chapter 108 of that code, which is identical to this article.
The Rules of Civil Procedure now govern all civil suits, whether cognizable as cases at law or in equity (except for special statutory or summary proceedings), and provide for one form of action, "civil action." See Rules 1-001 and 1-002 NMRA.

Structure 2021 New Mexico Statutes