Tennessee requires a journal if fees are charged (TCA 8-21-1201[b]). For RON: mandatory electronic journal + 5-year A/V retention. Public Chapter 124 (eff. Jan 1, 2026): course + exam now required for online notary commission — implementing rules in effect March 2, 2026. Elected by county legislative body; Governor signs commission. $10,000 bond. NotaryAct state-configured for Tennessee.
✅ 2026 Update — Effective January 1, 2026: Public Chapter 124 (SB 1051/HB 1340) now requires all new and renewing online notary commission applicants to complete an SOS-approved course of instruction AND pass an examination. Traditional (in-person) commissions are not affected. Implementing rules under Rule 1360-07-03 took effect March 2, 2026. The online notary application fee remains $75.
| ⚖️ Tennessee Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | TCA Title 8, Chapter 16 · § 8-21-1201(b) (fee-conditional journal) · § 8-16-308 (online journal) · Rule 1360-07-03 (eff. March 2, 2026) |
| Traditional Journal | Required if notary OR notary’s employer charges a fee (TCA 8-21-1201[b]) · Highly recommended for all ✓ |
| Online/RON Journal | Mandatory — secure electronic journal required for all online notarizations (TCA 8-16-308) ✓ |
| RON A/V Recording | Mandatory — retained at least 5 years (Rule 1360-07-03) ✓ |
| Online Notary Training + Exam | NEW — Required since January 1, 2026 (Public Chapter 124) · SOS-approved course required · Exam required · Traditional commission unaffected ✓ |
| Online Notary Application Fee | $75 (Rule 1360-07-03, March 2026) |
| RON Max Fee | $25 per online notarization (Rule 1360-07-03) |
| Traditional Fee | Reasonable — no statutory cap for most acts |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct TN configuration |
| Commissioning Process | Elected by county legislative body → SOS → Governor signs commission → county clerk oath ✓ |
| Surety Bond | $10,000 — filed with county clerk before taking oath |
| Application Fee | $12 total ($7 to county clerk + $5 to SOS) |
| Commission Term | 4 years · Seal color must be other than black or yellow |
Tennessee’s journal rules operate on two tracks that serve different notary populations. For traditional in-person notarizations, the trigger is economic: if the notary or their employer charges a fee for notarial services, a written or electronic record of every notarized act is required under TCA 8-21-1201(b). No fee means no legal mandate — but the SOS, county clerks, and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations all strongly recommend maintaining a journal for all acts as a fraud-prevention measure.
For online notarizations, the standard is unambiguous: a mandatory secure electronic journal and A/V recording are required for every session, with records retained for at least 5 years under Rule 1360-07-03.
Unlike most states where the SOS directly commissions notaries, Tennessee uses a county-level election followed by state-level approval. The county legislative body (county commission or council) votes to elect the applicant. The county clerk forwards the approved application to the SOS, which prepares a commission signed by both the Governor and the Secretary of State. The county clerk then administers the oath and delivers the commission certificate. Notaries must secure their $10,000 bond before taking the oath.
| 1 | Date and time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Document description and type of notarial act — NotaryAct covers all Tennessee-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Identity proofing method and result — Credential analysis, KBA, and all ID verification data. NotaryAct captures all required details. |
| 4 | The electronic documents presented — Document tracking included in NotaryAct’s RON journal. |
| 5 | Fee charged (max $25 for RON) — Required field in every NotaryAct entry. |
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Tennessee: Fee-conditional traditional journal with all recommended fields. Mandatory online journal meeting TCA 8-16-308 and Rule 1360-07-03 requirements. 5-year RON record retention. Updated to reflect Public Chapter 124 (eff. January 1, 2026) and March 2, 2026 implementing rules.
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NotaryAct’s Tennessee configuration provides the fee-conditional journal, mandatory online notary journal, and A/V session documentation — all updated to reflect Public Chapter 124 and the March 2, 2026 implementing rules.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Tennessee Code Annotated Title 8, Chapters 16 and 21, and Rule 1360-07-03 (as amended effective March 2, 2026, implementing Public Chapter 124, Acts of 2025) as in effect June 2026. Consult the Tennessee Secretary of State Division of Publications Notary Section at sos.tn.gov or your county clerk’s office for guidance specific to your situation.
