How to Become a Notary in Tennessee (2026 Guide)

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Key Takeaways

• Surety bond required (the SOS no longer prints the amount; it has customarily been $10,000, so confirm with your county clerk)
• Journal required for all notarial acts
• No exam for traditional notaries
• Application fee: $12-$17 (varies by county) | Commission term: 4 years
• New for 2026: Online notaries must complete a state-approved course and pass an exam (SB1051)
• Must be 18+, a TN resident, and have no felony convictions

Tennessee requires a $10,000 surety bond and a journal, but no exam for traditional notaries. New for 2026: anyone applying for an online notary commission must complete a state-approved course and pass an exam under SB1051. Applications go through your county clerk, not the Secretary of State. Here is the process.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Live in the county where you apply, or maintain your principal place of business there (the county legislative body elects notaries from its county)
• Be a US citizen or legal permanent resident
• Have no felony convictions (unless rights restored)
• Be able to read and write English

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Purchase Your $10,000 Surety Bond

Tennessee requires a surety bond secured through a Tennessee insurance company. The Secretary of State’s pages no longer print the dollar amount; it has customarily been $10,000, but confirm the current figure with your county clerk before purchasing. The premium typically costs $30-$60 for the 4-year term.

Step 2: Submit Your Application to Your County Clerk

Unlike most states, Tennessee notaries are elected: you obtain the application from your county clerk, submit it with the county application fee ($12-$17, county-set), and the county legislative body elects you to the office (a formality in practice, because nobody runs against notary applicants). Provide proof of your bond to the county clerk; the Secretary of State then issues the commission and returns the certificate to the county clerk’s office for you to pick up.

Step 3: Receive Your Commission and Buy Supplies

Once commissioned, purchase your notary stamp (required) and a journal (required). Stamps cost $15-$25, journals $10-$50. You must record your commission with your county clerk before you start notarizing.

Costs to Get Commissioned

Item	Cost
Surety bond premium (confirm amount with county clerk)	$30-$60
Application fee (varies by county)	$12-$17
Notary stamp	$15-$25
Notary journal (required)	$10-$50
Total	$67-$152

How Much You Can Charge

Tennessee sets no maximum fee for in-person notarizations — charge a reasonable fee and say what it is before the act. Online notarizations are different: SB1051’s regime caps online acts at $25.

Authorized Notarial Acts

• Take acknowledgments
• Administer oaths and affirmations
• Take verifications on oath or affirmation
• Witness or attest signatures
• Certify copies of documents
• Protest negotiable instruments

Notary Stamp Requirements

Tennessee requires an official circular seal prescribed by the Secretary of State (T.C.A. 8-16-114), produced as a rubber stamp rather than an impression, in an ink that is neither black nor yellow. It must include your name exactly as commissioned, “Notary Public,” “State of Tennessee,” and your commission expiration date. When your term ends, the seal is surrendered to the county legislative body, not kept as a souvenir.

Notarizing for Family Members

Tennessee does not explicitly prohibit notarizing for family members. The general rule applies: you cannot notarize a document in which you have a direct financial or beneficial interest. When in doubt, refer family members to another notary.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Not required, but recommended. The surety bond protects the public; E&O insurance is what protects you — roughly $19 a year for $25,000 of coverage in the notary specialty market, about $75 for $100,000.

Penalties for Notary Misconduct

Notarizing without authority is a misdemeanor; fraud or forgery tied to a notarial act is a felony. The county can revoke a commission for cause, and the bond pays public claims with your personal liability on top. Tennessee is explicit about that last part: under T.C.A. 66-22-113, a notary faces a $100 forfeiture plus damages, and liability is not limited to the bond amount.

Your Commission Belongs to You

Your commission is personal: it does not belong to your employer, and your stamp and journal go with you when you change jobs. No employer can require you to skip proper procedure, and one who pressures you into misconduct can share the liability for it.

Renewal

Tennessee notary commissions last 4 years from the date the Governor issues them. Renew through your county clerk with a new bond and a new election. Do not keep stamping past expiration: continuing to act as a notary after the commission expires is a Class C misdemeanor.

Online Notary Requirements (SB1051, 2026)

Tennessee runs one of the more structured online-notary programs (the Online Notary Public Act, SB 1758, effective July 1, 2019, tightened by SB1051 effective January 1, 2026). The requirements: hold an existing commission, complete the state-approved course and pass its exam, sign a contract with an approved technology vendor before applying, and pay the $75 initial fee. The online authorization expires with your traditional commission, so it renews on the same four-year cycle. Note that Tennessee offers no separate “electronic notary” category: the SOS recognizes only notaries and remote online notaries. Online acts are capped at $25.

Becoming a Signing Agent

Tennessee closings customarily run through attorneys, and in practice attorney involvement is expected — the accurate framing is “customary and often required,” not “an attorney must be present at every signing.” See our attorney-states and escrow-states guide for how this splits by state. Signing agents still get plenty of work handling loan packages, and Nashville and Memphis are the top markets.

How Tennessee Compares to Neighboring States

Requirement	Tennessee	Georgia	North Carolina	Virginia	Kentucky
Bond	$10,000	None	None	None	$1,000
Exam	No	No	Yes	No	No
Training	No	Yes (HB1292)	6 hours	No	No
Term	4 years	4 years	5 years	4 years	4 years
RON	Yes	Not permitted	Yes	Yes	Yes

Tennessee requires a $10,000 bond, while Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia require no bond at all and Kentucky’s is a nominal $1,000. North Carolina stands out with its 6-hour training requirement and exam, and Georgia recently added mandatory training (HB1292) while still permitting no remote notarization. Tennessee and Georgia are the two attorney-closing states in this group. Full guides: Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated October 2026. Requirements based on the Tennessee Secretary of State and TCA 8-16.