Notary Application

Tennessee Notary Public Handbook

To apply to be a Notary in Robertson County: (If you are renewing, you will follow the same steps.)

  1. You have to be a Robertson County resident or your primary place of business has to be located in Robertson County.
  2. Bring your application, to our office, along with the $17.00 fee. You will be administered your oath at this time.
  3. Notary Public applications received by the County Clerk are forwarded to the County Commission for approval after the District Attorney’s Office conducts an investigation to determine if the applicant is eligible under the law. The County Commission will approve you at their monthly meeting. (If your application is turned in before the first Friday of the month, you will be considered for approval in that monthly meeting. Robertson County Commission meets on the third Monday of the month except January & February where it is the 4th Monday.)
  4. If approved, within 10 days of the monthly meeting, the actual Notary Commission is then issued by the Secretary of State and is valid for a period of four years. 
  5. Once the Notary Commission is received from the Secretary of State's office, you will be contacted by our office to inform you it is available for pickup. We will tell you the dates of the four-year period that will need to be covered by your bond. Be sure your bond is in the same name that you applied for your notary. (Include middle initial, exact name, no variation) A notary must be bonded. You will bring your bond into our office and receive your Notary Commission. 

To qualify for a public office a person must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and be in compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA 8-18-101). All notaries must be a county resident or have their principal place of business in the county from which they were elected. If an individual has his principal place of business in any county in the state of Tennessee, he shall be eligible for election as a notary at large, although he may reside in a state other than Tennessee (TCA 8-16-101). All notaries must be U.S. citizens (Pub. Ch. 834, Acts 2008)

All individuals meeting these qualifications are eligible for election as a notary public at large except the following persons:

  • Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
  • Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any amounts of money received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county of this state;
  • Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
  • Soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
  • Members of Congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, another state of the union, or under the United States. (8-18-101).

The certification below is required from all applicants:

I certify that this application has been completed and examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true and complete application made in good faith pursuant to the provisions of Chapters 16 and 18, Title 8, of the Tennessee Code Annotated, dealing with Notaries Public.

All notaries are now classified as At Large, or with statewide authority. As of April 28, 2021, Notaries are allowed to solemnize marriages.

The Robertson County Clerk’s Office accepts Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit card payments for most services.*Convenience fees do apply.