A notary public is considered a state official with statewide jurisdiction whose powers and duties are defined by statute. Op. Tenn. Atty. Gen. 07-157 (11/26/07).
A Tennessee notary public is authorized to act in any county in Tennessee and has the power to acknowledge signatures upon personal knowledge or satisfactory proof, to administer oaths, to take depositions, qualify parties to bills in chancery, and to take affidavits. T.C.A. §8-16-112. A notary is authorized to take acknowledgments, and to certify the probate or
acknowledgment of a deed or other instrument to the county clerk. T.C.A. §§ 66-22-102, 66-22-105. A notary is also authorized to do formal protests of negotiable instruments, but this publication does not deal with the protest of a negotiable instrument because it is rarely used; an attorney should be consulted if this is required. T.C.A. § 24-5-103. A notary public can take an acknowledgment or affidavit of a nonresident of the State of Tennessee if that person is physically present within this state. A notary should not acknowledge his or her own signature nor notarize any signature if he or she is a party to the transaction or an agent of a party taking an acknowledgment. A notary should not notarize his or her spouse’s signature because of the requirement that notaries discharge their duties “without favor or partiality.” Op. Tenn. Atty. Gen. 10-97 (9/13/10). Attestations, protestations, and other evidence of publication or acknowledgment made by a notary public under seal will be received into evidence. T.C.A. §8-16-116.
“I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.” Pursuant to T.C.A. §8-16-401.
Mobile Services
Our Fee for mobile services is $25.00 to notarized any document in the Tri-Cities TN to include cities in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington Counties and an additional $.50 per mile after the first 15 miles to go outside those counties.