Post-judgment interest by state · New Mexico
New Mexico · after judgment
Post-judgment interest in New Mexico
An unpaid New Mexico money judgment earns 8.75% a year unless the judgment or a contract says otherwise. On a $5,000.00 judgment that is $437.50 in the first year, about $1.20 a day.
How the rate is set
Fixed in the statute at 8.75% a year. It changes only when the legislature acts.
- Statute or rule
- NMSA 1978 §56-8-4(A)
- Statute re-checked
- 2026-10-23
- Changes
- only when the legislature amends the statute
When a different rate applies
- 15% for a judgment based on tortious conduct, bad faith, or intentional or willful acts.
- A judgment on a written instrument bears no more than the instrument's rate.
- The state and its political subdivisions are exempt.
Work out your own judgment
New Mexico is prefilled at 8.75%. Enter the amount and the date the judgment was entered. The calculator uses simple interest; that is how this rate accrues.
How New Mexico's rate is set, and where it comes from
Uses simple interest at the rate you enter — pre-filled with each state's standard statutory rate, editable since some states publish a new rate quarterly or annually. Some states apply a different rate to specific debt types (noted above where it applies) or when a contract specifies its own rate. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm the current rate and any exceptions with your court clerk before relying on this figure.
The formula, worked
Last reviewed: October 2026
Interest = principal × rate × days ÷ 365. For $5,000.00 at 8.75%: $5,000.00 × 0.08750 × 365 ÷ 365 = $437.50 after one year, and $1.20 for each further day.
What this page does not know
- The rate written on your judgment. If the court stated a rate, that one applies, whatever the default is today.
- Partial payments. Interest accrues only on what is still unpaid.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every figure is cited to the statute or the office that publishes it; confirm the current rate with the court clerk before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the post-judgment interest rate in New Mexico right now?
8.75% a year for an ordinary money judgment, fixed in the statute, under NMSA 1978 §56-8-4(A).
How is the New Mexico rate set?
Fixed in the statute at 8.75% a year. It changes only when the legislature acts.
Is it simple or compound interest?
Simple interest: it is calculated on the original judgment amount only and never on earlier interest.
Can my New Mexico judgment carry a different rate?
Yes. 15% for a judgment based on tortious conduct, bad faith, or intentional or willful acts. A judgment on a written instrument bears no more than the instrument's rate. The state and its political subdivisions are exempt. The judgment itself may also state a rate, and that controls.
Related tools
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