Tennessee is unique: you're elected to a 4-year term by your County Commission, not appointed by the Secretary of State. The process is slower because of the election cycle, but the requirements are straightforward.
Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-101 and related sections, eligibility requirements are:
Tennessee notary costs vary by county. Some counties charge more for the application fee — Shelby County (Memphis), for example, charges $16 vs the standard $12-$13 in most counties. The bond is the largest variable cost.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| County application fee | Required (varies by county) | $12–$45 |
| $10,000 surety bond (4-year term) | Required | $30–$55 |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $15–$35 |
| Notary journal (recommended) | Optional but recommended | $10–$25 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $70–$160 |
Tennessee's process involves multiple parties: your County Clerk receives the application, the County Commission elects you, the Secretary of State issues the actual commission certificate, and the County Clerk swears you in. The bond must be recorded with the Register of Deeds before filing with the County Clerk.
The timeline is dictated by your county's Commission meeting schedule — typically every other month (Jan, March, May, July, Sept, Nov).
Each Tennessee county has its own notary application. Visit or contact your County Clerk's office (where you reside or do business) to obtain the form. Some counties have it available online; others require you to pick it up in person.
Fill out the application completely. The application itself must be notarized by another current Tennessee notary public before submission.
Most counties require applications by the last business day of the month preceding a Commission meeting. Pay the county application fee ($12-$45 depending on county). The Clerk will then schedule your election at the next County Commission meeting.
Your election occurs at a Commission meeting (typically every other month). You don't need to attend — your application is voted on along with other notary applicants.
After election, purchase a 4-year, $10,000 surety bond. Tennessee law requires the bond to be recorded with the Register of Deeds BEFORE being filed with the County Clerk. This is a Tennessee-specific quirk.
After election, you have a 10-day waiting period, then must appear at the County Clerk's office in person to file your bond, take the oath of office, sign the record book, and receive your seal.
Tennessee notaries can perform these acts anywhere in the state under Title 8 of the Tennessee Code:
Tennessee allows notaries to set reasonable fees — no statutory caps. Effective Oct 2014, Tenn. Code 8-21-1201 lets notaries charge market rates.
Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville have particularly active mobile notary markets. The wedding officiation authority is a unique TN opportunity — many notaries earn substantial side income officiating weddings, especially in destination wedding markets like Nashville and Gatlinburg.
Tennessee authorized RON via the Online Notary Public Act (Senate Bill 1758). To perform RON in TN:
Your Tennessee commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal is the same election-by-County-Commission process as initial application.
Most notaries renew if they've had a raised seal or black ink stamp — the fee is $44.70, which covers the new Commission Certificate from the Secretary of State and a new ink stamp. The County Commission must re-elect you at a meeting, and you need a fresh $10,000 bond. Start the renewal process 3-4 months before your current commission expires to avoid a gap.
Tennessee uses a county-election model dating back to its original constitution. Notary commissions are considered a county-level office, and the elected County Commissioners (or Metro Council in Nashville/Davidson) formally elect notaries. The Secretary of State issues the actual certificate after the election.
Yes. Tennessee Code § 36-3-301 explicitly authorizes notaries public to solemnize marriages. This is a significant source of income for many TN notaries, especially those marketing to destination weddings in Nashville, the Smokies, or Memphis.
It's a Tennessee-specific procedural requirement under the Comptroller's Bond Procedures. The Register of Deeds creates the public record of the bond before it's filed with the County Clerk for your oath. This costs a small additional fee (typically $5-$15).
Realistically 6-10 weeks because of the County Commission meeting schedule. Submit your application at least 2 weeks before a Commission meeting; election happens at the meeting; 10-day waiting period after election; then you can appear at the Clerk's office. Shelby County (Memphis) explicitly notes the process can take up to 10 weeks.
Yes. Once commissioned, you can notarize anywhere in Tennessee. However, if you change your residence or principal place of business to a different TN county, you must file a notarized change-of-address form with your original County Clerk and pay a fee.
Tennessee requires you to be a US citizen OR legal permanent resident under TCA 8-16-101. Work visas and other temporary statuses don't qualify.
Tennessee's wedding-officiation authority, no fee caps, and growing Nashville/Memphis metros make it one of the most profitable mobile notary markets in the Southeast. We're recruiting founding-cohort Tennessee notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
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