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Tennessee
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If you want to act in an official capacity as a notary public in Tennessee, you must hold an active and valid commission through the state government.
Because notary commissions expire every four years, you must take care to complete the renewal processes in a timely manner. The penalties for failing to renew your appointment can be quite serious, as notaries who continue to perform duties after the expiration of their commission can face Class C misdemeanor charges.
The renewal process in Tennessee is essentially the same as the process for securing a new commission. It is never too soon to begin renewing your appointment according to state government officials.
Early renewal is particularly important because many counties require the receipt of applications well in advance of their scheduled commission meetings.
Before starting your renewal, confirm that you still hold viable citizenship or residency in both the United States and Tennessee.
You must still be free of unpaid government judgments as well as convictions of bribery, larceny and other crimes relevant to the profession. Members of the US military and holders of state or federal public office are prohibited from being notaries.
The easiest way to begin the renewal application process is to visit the official Tennessee County Clerk website . This site will lead you to renewal instructions for your specific county of residency.
Each of the 95 counties in Tennessee has its own application requirements, legal forms and associated fees. Some counties offer online or downloadable applications that can be submitted electronically or printed, filled out and mailed in.
Other counties require applicants to visit a brick-and-mortar county clerk's office to renew their appointment.
When your county clerk's office approves your application for renewal, you must secure a surety bond for $10,000 from a reputable bond company.
The bond pays clients that suffer financial loss due to a notarization mistake. Looking for liability insurance that covers you, the notary? Check out errors and omissions insurance here. Policies start at just $20.
After obtaining your surety bond, you must physically bring it to your county clerk's office to provide proof of coverage. The office may charge you a fee to file the bond in its internal records. While at your county clerk building, you can also take your official oath of office.
Once your commission is ready, the Secretary of State will send it to your county clerk, and you can go pick it up.
Before you can begin notarizing, you must purchase and receive the necessary supplies. Most importantly, you must acquire a new notary stamp to go with your new commission. In fact, you need a new seal and stamp for every commission period.
Stamps must include a circular seal with your name printed at the top, the county of election printed at the bottom and the words State of Tennessee Notary Public or Tennessee Notary Public printed in the center.
From navigating an application system that varies considerably among counties to obtaining your surety bond, official stamp and other required items, renewing your commission can be quite complex and time-consuming.
At Notaries.com, we can handle many of the details necessary for your notary renewal, leaving you free to attend to more important professional and personal matters. Our notary renewal package includes the state-required surety bond, a self-inking stamp that meets state specifications and a notary certificate fit for framing. Get your package here.
Tennessee notaries must renew their commission once every four years.
While you can't officially renew an expired notary commission in Tennessee, you can obtain a new commission by completing the same processes you completed to secure your original appointment.
All notaries in the state must hold a current four-year, $10,000 surety bond.