David G. Crum & Associates, has represented divorce and criminal defense clients throughout the United States and around the world. In most cases, New Mexico has jurisdiction over the legal proceedings, even though the clients are located outside of the state. The following steps are typically utilized by the out of state client who retains our law firm:

1.    Contact us regarding your case by telephone or by submitting a case evaluation. You can contact us at (505) 843-7303. After we have discussed your case and agreed upon your retainer in a divorce case , or a flat fee in your criminal case, you will receive a fee agreement by fax or e-mail, which you will sign and return to us by fax at (505) 244-8731.

2.    After you have either funded your retainer or made payment pursuant to your criminal agreement, we will begin work on your case immediately.


In many cases the courts will allow the client to appear by telephone at certain hearings. This is especially true when travel by the out of state party would be overly burdensome, or when the subject matter of the hearing is suitable for testimony by telephone. Arrangements can be made ahead of time by the attorney to prevent unnecessary travel for the client.

For parties who live outside of the state of New Mexico but have criminal cases pending here, it is often possible to reside in your home state while your case is pending in New Mexico. In certain cases, the court will allow an out of state defendant to travel to New Mexico for purposes of arraignment, and then allow the defendant to return to his home state while the case is pending.

The courts are increasingly allowing visitation in custody cases to take place via the internet. This is often done in the form of video hook-ups in both states, and the court will often order the parties to bear this expense equally. Visitation can also be facilitated by e-mail and other forms of online communication.