The Tennessee Health Department’s Office of Vital Records reviews, registers, amends, issues and maintains the original certificates of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occur in Tennessee in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated.
Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Tennessee Vital Records 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower 710 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243
How are individuals selected to be Administrative Judges?
Administrative Judges are hired through a competitive interview process by the Secretary of State. Open positions for a new Administrative Judge are publicly posted by the Secretary of State’s Human Resources division.
What types of business entities file documents with the Secretary of State?
Corporations*
Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s)*
Limited Partnerships (LP’s)*
Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s)*
General Partnerships+
*All of the above business entities file formation documents.
+Filings by general partnerships are not for the purpose of forming or maintaining a general partnership in Tennessee. Document filing is for the purpose of providing public notice of basic information about a general partnership, such as the agency authority of its partners, and such filings are optional and voluntary.
What is a Public Record?
“Public record or records’ or ‘state record or records’ means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files and output, films, sound recordings, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental agency.” T.C.A. § 10-7-301(6)
The test for determining whether a record is public is “whether it was made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental agency.” Griffin v. City of Knoxville, 821 S.W. 2d 921, 924 (Tenn. 1991).
Is there a difference between Administrative Judge and Administrative Law Judge or ALJ?
No. The titles Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, and ALJ are used interchangeably.
Do Administrative Judges specialize in a particular area of the law?
No, Administrative Judges hear a wide variety of cases. Judges have experience with the multi-faceted issues presented by each individual case filed with APD. This approach allows for the greatest amount of flexibility with scheduling and assignment of cases ensuring that hearings and mediations proceed in the most expeditious manner possible. The one exception to this practice involves State Board of Equalization cases which are primarily assigned to a subset of judges with additional specialized training in that area of the law.
What is the fewest number of people needed to incorporate?
One (1)
How do I register a nonprofit in Tennessee?
Domestic and Foreign Nonprofit Corporation filings can be filed through our online filing system.
What is the Records Management Division?
The Records Management Division (RMD) was established by Tennessee Code Annotated 10-7-303 to assist state agencies in establishing systematic controls for the efficient use and sound preservation of state records. The Division serves as the primary records management agency for the state of Tennessee and provides professional consultative and analytical records management leadership to agencies. This guidance aids in the appropriate development, utilization, disposition, retention, and destruction of records.
The Records Management Division is further directed by the Public Records Commission (PRC) to serve as administrative liaison between state agencies and the PRC; to establish procedural guidelines for paper and electronic records oversight and retention; and to coordinate efforts supporting the state's Paperwork Reduction and Simplification Act of 1976 (TCA 4-25-101).
What is the Records Disposition Authorizations process?
Records Disposition Authorizations (RDAs) are record retention guides state agencies follow to maintain their records properly. The Records Management Division oversees the records management process. The Secretary of State’s office online RDA filing system provides users with an easy way to filter, search, and find RDAs and provides retention and destruction method information. Click here to search all effective RDAs.
What is an Administrative Judge?
An Administrative Judge is also known as an Administrative Law Judge or ALJ. The Administrative Judge rules on cases involving administrative disputes (or disputes regarding the administration or implementation of government laws and rules).
Who do I contact when making a public records request
State agencies are required by law, T.C.A 10-7-503(a)(2)(B), to have a designated Public Records Request Coordinator. This person is the designated contact for receiving public records requests. Contact the appropriate agency’s coordinator to request access to that agency’s records. If you have further questions or need additional assistance, contact: Office of Open Records Counsel
An assumed name is a name other than the true entity name under which it conducts business. Tennessee does not recognize 'DBAs' (doing business as) or fictitious names. The assumed name is good for 5 years and can be renewed.
What is an Incorporator?
The incorporator is the person that files the charter of the corporation. The incorporator must be of legal age to enter into contracts. Once the charter has been filed, the incorporator’s function is complete.
Do you have to use an attorney to incorporate?
You are not required to use an attorney to file a new entity; however, using the services of a professional may be helpful.
What are the most common reasons for rejection of an Annual Report?
The correct fee is not paid. The annual report fee for a corporation is $20, and an additional $20 is required if any change is made concerning the registered agent/registered office. The annual report fee for LLCs is $300 minimum up to a maximum of $3000. The fee increases by an additional $50 per member for every member over 6 members up to a maximum of $3,000.
An officer is not listed. If the business is a Tennessee for-profit corporation, the corporation must list at least one officer. If the business is a Tennessee nonprofit corporation, a president and secretary or required.
The board of directors are not listed, the box indicating that the board is the same as the officers listed is not marked, or the box indicating that the corporation does not have directors is not marked.
The annual report is not signed and/or dated.
The annual report is not typed or filled out in ink.
What are the most common reasons for rejection of a filing?
The required filing fee was not enclosed.
The document has not been signed
The document is not clear and legible.
The document was not enclosed.
The document is not dated.
An email address was not provided.
The name that you have requested is unavailable because it is not distinguishable from another business entity on file.
We were not able to obtain tax clearance from the Department of Revenue. Please, contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue at (615) 253-0600 or (800) 342-1003. Once you have satisfied their requirements, resubmit your document to our office for filing.
The address of the registered office must be a physical Tennessee address; it cannot be a post office box, route number, or box number alone.
Does the corporation have to be recorded anywhere else?
Yes, if the principal address is in Tennessee, the filed document must be recorded in the Registered of Deeds in the county where the principal office is located.
What are bylaws?
Bylaws are the code or rules by which the corporation is run, and explain the conditions and limitations that the corporation must follow in conducting its business.
What Is the Board of Directors?
The board of directors is a group of people who direct and oversee the business activities of the corporation. The board hires officers to conduct the day-to-day operation of the corporation. In the case of small, tightly held corporations, the board of directors and the officers may serve in both capacities.
How many shares of stock are required when filing a charter?
The minimum is one. There is no limit on the maximum number of shares authorized.,
What are authorized shares?
Authorized shares are the number of shares of stock that the charter allows the corporation to issues.
What is a registered agent?
A registered agent is a person or company who agrees to accept legal mail on behalf of your entity. Tennessee requires that all entities (except General Partnerships (GP) to maintain a registered agent/office in the State of Tennessee at all times.