How do I correctly cite this opinion?

Use the court’s official reporter citation or electronic citation, include party names, docket number, court name, and decision date. Pinpoint the page or paragraph for direct quotations to aid judicial review and opposing counsel.

Where can I obtain an official copy?

Request a certified copy from the appellate clerk or download the opinion from the court’s published opinions page. Verify that the copy includes the court stamp or official pagination when needed for filing.

Can I e-sign documents that rely on this case?

Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Confirm the court’s rules for signature format, and preserve the audit trail and record reproduction ability.

What if the court requires original signatures?

Some filings or attachments may require original wet signatures or notarized originals. Check local appellate rules and the clerk’s instructions before substituting an electronic signature.

How should I store the opinion and related filings?

Retain signed briefs, exhibits, and opinions for the active case term plus recommended retention periods. Keep searchable PDFs and maintain secure backups in compliance with HIPAA or IRS rules where applicable.

Who can help with e-filing or signature questions?

Contact the appellate clerk for procedural rules and your firm’s records or IT administrator for technical e-filing and eSignature configuration. For compliance, consult counsel on privacy or evidentiary concerns.

Electronic Signature
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State of New Mexico Plaintiff Appellee v. Truett Thomas

State of New Mexico Plaintiff Appellee v. Truett Thomas

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

ORDER FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION IN A NEWSPAPER

4-209A

[For use with District Court Civil 1-004 NMRA]

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

COUNTY OF

JUDICIAL DISTRICT No.

V.

Plaintiff

Defendant

ORDER FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS¹
BY PUBLICATION IN A NEWSPAPER

[Plaintiff] [Petitioner] has filed a motion requesting that the court approve service of process upon by publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

The court finds that the [plaintiff] [petitioner] has made diligent efforts to make personal service, but has not been able to complete service of process. The last known address of is

The court further finds that the newspaper of general circulation in this county is [and that this newspaper is most likely to give the defendant notice of the pendency of the action]¹ [and in the county of State of , a newspaper most likely to give notice of the pendency of this proceeding to the person to be served is: ].

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petitioner serve process on by publication once a week for three consecutive weeks in the [and one a week for three consecutive weeks in in ]¹. The [plaintiff] [petitioner] shall file a proof of service with a copy of the affidavit of publication when service has been completed.

Dated this day of ,

District Judge

What this case title represents and why it matters

State of New Mexico Plaintiff Appellee v. Truett Thomas is an appellate case caption indicating the State appears as the plaintiff and the named party Truett Thomas is the appellant or respondent on appeal. Appellate opinions of this type record procedural history, the issues raised on appeal, the court’s legal analysis, and the final disposition. Legal professionals use such opinions to understand precedent, preserve appellate arguments, and confirm procedural requirements for filings and citations. Researchers and litigants consult the opinion to determine how the court interpreted statutory or constitutional questions raised in the dispute.

Why this opinion is useful to practitioners and researchers

The opinion provides binding or persuasive authority on the legal issues addressed and clarifies appellate procedure, standards of review, and evidentiary boundaries. It helps counsel prepare briefs, anticipate counterarguments, and ensure compliance with procedural deadlines and citation format.

Primary users and stakeholders

Many public agencies, compliance officers, and appellate clerks also consult opinions for procedural and policy guidance.

Appellate attorneys — Reference for framing issues, citing holdings, and drafting persuasive briefs tied to precedent.
Trial counsel — Use to evaluate error preservation, craft motions, and advise clients on appeal viability.
Legal researchers and students — Study legal reasoning, statutory interpretation, and case comparisons for scholarship.

Core parts of an appellate opinion you should read

A disciplined review of each opinion section helps you extract holdings, scope of precedent, and applicable procedural rules for subsequent filings or appeals.

Case Caption

Lists the parties, court, docket number, and often counsel names; use it to generate an accurate citation and to confirm party alignment for related filings.

Procedural History

Summarizes lower court proceedings, motions, and judgments; identifies the preserved issues and frames what the appellate court reviews on the record.

Issues Presented

Concise statement of legal and factual questions the court addresses; useful for matching your argument to the court’s analytic scope.

Holding

The court’s formal answer to the presented issues; cite the holding precisely and avoid overstating general applicability beyond the facts.

Reasoning

Explains statutory interpretation, precedent, and policy considerations; this is the source for persuasive analogies in later briefs.

Disposition

Final outcome (affirmed, reversed, remanded) plus any instructions to the lower court; critical for compliance with mandate timing and next procedural steps.

Quick sequence to use this opinion effectively

Follow these concise steps to extract applicable law and prepare filings that rely on the opinion.

01

Locate Opinion: Obtain the official opinion or certified electronic copy.
02

Read Fully: Review procedure and holdings before citing.
03

Identify Holdings: Extract the legal rule and scope.
04

Cite Precisely: Use full citation and pinpoint references in filings.

Where appellate documents are filed or submitted

Appellate filings are routed to specific clerk offices and may require electronic filing systems, hard-copy briefs, or both based on court rules.

Clerk’s Office: Primary receiving office for briefs and motions.
E-Filing Portal: Use the court’s electronic filing system if available.
Paper Filing: Submit required paper copies if local rules demand them.
Service to Parties: Serve opposing counsel and file proof of service with the clerk.

Typical online filing configuration for appellate documents

Set these values in your e-filing or document-prep workflow to match common court requirements and avoid routine rejects.

Field	Configuration
Document Type	Brief \| Appendix \| Motion
File Format	PDF/A preferred; searchable PDF when possible
Signature Method	Electronic signature or wet signature as local rules allow
Authentication	Attorney login with bar number verification

Technical requirements for electronic submissions and signatures

For signing and routing, enterprise eSignature platforms integrate with document management and e-filing systems; verify the court’s permitted submission and authentication methods before filing.

File Formats: PDF, PDF/A, DOCX accepted
Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 required
Integrations: Clerks may accept via e-file portal

Common risks and consequences of procedural errors

Missed Deadline: Appeal may be dismissed

Improper Service: Filings may be rejected or delayed

Incorrect Citation: Argument credibility can suffer

Unsigned Documents: Clerk return or rejection

Unredacted PHI: HIPAA breach risk

Notarization Defect: Affects affidavits or sworn statements

Deadline considerations to verify before appeal filings

Appellate deadlines depend on judgment entry, service of notice, and local court rules; confirm timing and calculation methods with the clerk or rule text.

Notice of Appeal Deadline:

Varies by jurisdiction; check local appellate rule

Filing Briefs:

Follow court schedule for opening and response briefs

Extensions:

Some courts permit extensions for cause; formal motion required

Mandate Timing:

Court issues mandate after disposition and rehearing period

Calculate Carefully:

Count business days and service method per rules

eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot for legal workflows

Comparison of entry-level pricing and core features relevant to legal document signing and court-adjacent workflows. signNow is listed first per vendor-comparison guidance.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently asked questions about using this appellate opinion and related filings

Answers to common procedural and practical questions when locating, citing, or submitting filings that rely on the opinion.

Need help? Contact support

How do I correctly cite this opinion?
Use the court’s official reporter citation or electronic citation, include party names, docket number, court name, and decision date. Pinpoint the page or paragraph for direct quotations to aid judicial review and opposing counsel.
Where can I obtain an official copy?
Request a certified copy from the appellate clerk or download the opinion from the court’s published opinions page. Verify that the copy includes the court stamp or official pagination when needed for filing.
Can I e-sign documents that rely on this case?
Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Confirm the court’s rules for signature format, and preserve the audit trail and record reproduction ability.
What if the court requires original signatures?
Some filings or attachments may require original wet signatures or notarized originals. Check local appellate rules and the clerk’s instructions before substituting an electronic signature.
How should I store the opinion and related filings?
Retain signed briefs, exhibits, and opinions for the active case term plus recommended retention periods. Keep searchable PDFs and maintain secure backups in compliance with HIPAA or IRS rules where applicable.
Who can help with e-filing or signature questions?
Contact the appellate clerk for procedural rules and your firm’s records or IT administrator for technical e-filing and eSignature configuration. For compliance, consult counsel on privacy or evidentiary concerns.

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