Qualifications: All Notaries must be 18 years of age or older. A person does have to be a U.S. citizen or have permanent legal residency to be a Notary. A Notary is elected to a four-year term by the county legislative body in the county where he/she resides or has principal place of business. A Notary is commissioned by the governor. A Notary Public is empowered to administer oaths, take depositions, and take affidavits. All Notaries are at large, meaning that they can exercise the functions of a Notary Public in all counties in Tennessee.
How to become a Notary: Turn an application in to the County Clerk’s Office, with a fee of $14.00. If using two personal sureties instead of a bonding company the sureties must be listed on the application. Sureties each must be personally worth in excess of $10,000.00 after deducting all indebtedness. Sureties must come into the County Clerk’s office and sign for the notary before a commission will be issued. The Clerk’s Office will notify the applicant when the application is approved.