Become a Tennessee notary public with Notary Rotary, Inc.
Qualifications:
Applicants for the office of Tennessee notary public must meet the following criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Be a resident of, or maintain a principal place of business in, the county from which he or she is elected
United States citizenship is not a requirement of the office. A county legislative body member is not prohibited from serving as a notary public; however, such member may not vote on his or her appointment as a notary.
As a public official, a notary public must meet the general qualifications for holding office set out in T.C.A. § 8-18-101, as well as the specific requirements contained in the notary statutes at T.C.A. § 8-16-101. It is a misdemeanor to take office as a notary public if a disqualification exists. A notary public may be removed from office in an ouster proceeding just as any other county official.
Term of Appointment:
The notary's term is four (4) years, beginning on the date of issuance of the commission by the Governor. Renewal is by the same method as the original procedure.
Step 1: Contact the County Clerk for the application and instructions
Contact your County Clerk's office to obtain an application. Complete the application process according to the instructions from the County Clerk and submit the completed application to the Clerk, along with a fee of $12.
A notary public is elected by the members of the county legislative body in the county where the notary resides or maintains a principal place of business. After election, a notary must be commissioned by the governor.
Application for election as a notary is submitted to the County Clerk. After election by the county legislative body, the County Clerk certifies the notary’s election to the Secretary of State. The County Clerk retains $7 of the application fee and submits the remaining $5 to the Secretary of State for the issuance of the commission.
Step 2: Order a $10,000 surety bond, stamp and journal from Notary Rotary, Inc.
Before acting as a Tennessee notary public you are required to purchase a $10,000 Notary bond, an official Tennessee notary stamp, and maintain a sequential journal to record all notarial acts. These items and many more may be purchased from Notary Rotary, Inc at the following link: Tennessee Notary Supplies.
Enter the store to purchase your $10,000 Notary bond, Tennessee notary stamp, Tennessee notary journal, and any other supplies you may need. To order, enter the required information, scroll down through the page to locate and select the desired products, and follow the instructions through checkout. Your order will be processed as quickly as possible, usually shipping within 2-3 days.
Step 3: Submit your bond to the County Clerk's office
Provide proof of the surety bond to the County Clerk. The Clerk will forward the certification, bond, and $5 fee to the Secretary of State, Division of Business Services. The Secretary of State will issue your Notary Commission and return it to the County Clerk's office.
Step 4: Receive your commission and take your oath of office at the County Clerk's office
The County Clerk will notify you that your commission has been received. After you have submitted the bond and taken the oath of office as required, the County Clerk will deliver the commission to you as a new notary public. If you already have your required Tennessee notary stamp or seal and journal, you may now begin your duties as a notary public. | 
