How to become a notary in Tennessee
Eligibility, a $10,000 bond, fees and the oath, in the order you'll do them — from the Tennessee Secretary of State (commissions issued by the Governor after election by the county commission; applications filed with the County Clerk).
Step by step
- Check that you qualify — 18+, Must live in, or have your principal place of business in, the Tennessee county whose county commission elects you; U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; Per the county application: no conviction for bribery, larceny or other 'infamous' offense unless citizenship rights are restored; no unpaid judgment for money owed in an official capacity to the U.S., Tennessee or a county; not active-duty regular military, a member of Congress or holder of an office of profit under a foreign power, another state or the U.S.; never removed for notarial misconduct or had a commission revoked or suspended; never found by a court to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
- Buy a $10,000 surety bond — $10,000 surety bond from a company authorized in Tennessee, dated to match the commission term; filed with the county clerk (some counties require it with the application, others after election). Acting before the bond is filed is a Class C misdemeanor.
- Complete the background check — No state fingerprinting; the application asks disqualifying questions under oath, and some counties have the District Attorney check for felony convictions.
- Apply to the Tennessee Secretary of State (commissions issued by the Governor after election by the county commission; applications filed with the County Clerk) — Pay the $12 state fee. Other fees: Fees are paid to the county clerk and vary by county: e.g. Davidson County $12 application plus $2 bond filing; Montgomery County $19, or $44.70 including a new ink stamp. Also the bond premium, notarizing your application, and the seal (a clerk may supply one for a markup of up to 20%).
- Take the oath and file it — Sign the application under oath before a notary and file it with your County Clerk by the county's deadline. The county commission votes at a scheduled meeting. File the $10,000 bond and pay fees, then take the oath of office and sign the record book at the clerk's office. The Secretary of State issues the commission (signed by the Governor) to the clerk for you to pick up. You may not act until the commission is received, the bond is filed and the oath is taken.
- Get your seal and journal — Seal: Required: official seal in the Secretary of State design: circular, notary's name at top, county of election at bottom, 'State of Tennessee Notary Public' or 'Tennessee Notary Public' in the center; inked stamp in a color other than black or yellow that copies as black (embossers are not accepted for new seals). Journal: Required (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201: record of each notarial act in a 'well-bound book' or an electronic format meeting AG Opinion 14-89 standards).
Notary packages & supplies
- National Notary Association — state packages: bond, seal, journal and any required training
- Notaries.com — lower-cost state packages with bond, stamp and supplies
Bond, stamp and journal in one order; check that the package matches Tennessee's rules. Some links may be affiliate links.
Tennessee notary requirements
| Commissioned by | Tennessee Secretary of State (commissions issued by the Governor after election by the county commission; applications filed with the County Clerk) |
| Who can apply | 18+ · Must live in, or have your principal place of business in, the Tennessee county whose county commission elects you; U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident |
| Course | Not required No course for a traditional commission. Online (remote) notary applicants must complete a course from a Secretary of State-approved provider (mandatory under rules effective 2026). |
| Exam | Not required No exam for a traditional commission; online notary applicants must pass the approved course provider's exam |
| State fee | $12 |
| Other fees | Fees are paid to the county clerk and vary by county: e.g. Davidson County $12 application plus $2 bond filing; Montgomery County $19, or $44.70 including a new ink stamp. Also the bond premium, notarizing your application, and the seal (a clerk may supply one for a markup of up to 20%). |
| Surety bond | $10,000 $10,000 surety bond from a company authorized in Tennessee, dated to match the commission term; filed with the county clerk (some counties require it with the application, others after election). Acting before the bond is filed is a Class C misdemeanor. |
| E&O insurance | Optional |
| Background check | No state fingerprinting; the application asks disqualifying questions under oath, and some counties have the District Attorney check for felony convictions |
| Term | 4 years (from the date the Governor issues the commission) |
| Oath / filing | Sign the application under oath before a notary and file it with your County Clerk by the county's deadline. The county commission votes at a scheduled meeting. File the $10,000 bond and pay fees, then take the oath of office and sign the record book at the clerk's office. The Secretary of State issues the commission (signed by the Governor) to the clerk for you to pick up. You may not act until the commission is received, the bond is filed and the oath is taken. |
| Seal | Required: official seal in the Secretary of State design: circular, notary's name at top, county of election at bottom, 'State of Tennessee Notary Public' or 'Tennessee Notary Public' in the center; inked stamp in a color other than black or yellow that copies as black (embossers are not accepted for new seals) |
| Journal | Required (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201: record of each notarial act in a 'well-bound book' or an electronic format meeting AG Opinion 14-89 standards) |
| Max fee per notarization | No fixed maximum: 'reasonable fees' (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201); online notarizations up to $25 each |
| Remote online notary | Allowed Online Notary Public Act (TCA 8-16-301 et seq.): an existing commissioned notary applies to the Secretary of State online with a $75 fee, a contract with an RON technology vendor, vendor documents, an electronic seal and a certificate showing they completed an approved online-notary course and exam (required since the 2026 rules). The online commission expires with the traditional commission. |
| Renewal | Same process as the original commission: new application, county commission election, new bond, fees and oath; no automatic renewal |
Tennessee is one of the few states where a local legislative body (the county commission) elects notaries, so deadlines, forms and total fees vary by county. Get the application from your County Clerk; there is no uniform state form. Senate Bill 1946 (2026) proposed moving appointments to the Secretary of State, but it was only assigned to a subcommittee and was not found enacted.
Sources: Tennessee Secretary of State – How to become a Notary · Tennessee SOS – How to become an Online Notary Public · Tennessee SOS FAQ – How long does a notary commission last? · Tennessee SOS FAQ – Requirements for Notary Seals · Tennessee SOS FAQ – Notary fees. Checked 2026-10. Values marked verify haven't been confirmed against an official source yet.
Earn more as a loan signing agent
Many notaries add mortgage closings: title and escrow companies pay signing agents per loan package. It needs a notary commission plus signing-agent training and a background screening.
- Loan Signing System — loan signing agent training to earn from mortgage closings ($347)
- NNA Notary Signing Agent certification — the certification and background screening title companies ask for
- Notaries.com signing agent course — budget signing agent course ($109)
Some links may be affiliate links.
Get a Tennessee notary checklist and renewal reminder
A printable checklist of every step and an email before your commission expires. Free.
Notary course and exam rules across the US
Other Tennessee licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Tennessee insurance licenses · Mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
Questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in Tennessee?
The state fee is $12, plus Fees are paid to the county clerk and vary by county: e.g. Davidson County $12 application plus $2 bond filing; Montgomery County $19, or $44.70 including a new ink stamp. Also the bond premium, notarizing your application, and the seal (a clerk may supply one for a markup of up to 20%).. Add the premium for the $10,000 bond, a seal and a journal.
How long does it take to become a notary in Tennessee?
Depends on the county commission meeting schedule (e.g. Davidson County votes every other month; Montgomery County requires a 10-day wait after approval).
Do I need to take a class or exam to be a notary in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires a $10,000 bond.
How much can a notary charge in Tennessee?
No fixed maximum: 'reasonable fees' (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201); online notarizations up to $25 each.
Can I be an online notary in Tennessee?
Yes. Online Notary Public Act (TCA 8-16-301 et seq.): an existing commissioned notary applies to the Secretary of State online with a $75 fee, a contract with an RON technology vendor, vendor documents, an electronic seal and a certificate showing they completed an approved online-notary course and exam (required since the 2026 rules). The online commission expires with the traditional commission.