The records shall be retained in a safe and secure manner, for five years following the date of the notarization.
A backup of the electronic records shall also be maintained for five years following the date of the notarization.
A notary can elect to store such recordings with a custodian, or a repository and such recordings may be stored separately from the journal if it is cross-referencing the place of storage and how the record is stored.
The original records and backup shall be protected from unauthorized use.
Does the State of Tennessee offer e-notaries?
No, the State of Tennessee only offers notaries and remote online notaries.
What does Title VI do?
Prohibits entities from denying an individual any service, financial aid, or other benefit because of race, color or national origin.
Prohibits entities from providing a different service or benefit or providing these in a different manner from those provided to others under the program.
Prohibits segregation or separate treatment in any manner related to receiving program services or benefits.
Prohibits entities from requiring different standards or conditions as prerequisites for serving individuals.
Encourages the participation of minorities as members of planning or advisory bodies for programs receiving federal funds.
Prohibits discriminatory activity in a facility built in whole or part with Federal funds.
Requires information and services to be provided in languages other than English when significant numbers of beneficiaries are of limited English speaking ability.
Requires entities to notify the respective population about applicable programs.
Prohibits locating facilities in any way that would limit or impede access to a Federally funded service or benefit.
Requires assurance of nondiscrimination in purchasing of services.
What is the fee that can be charged for an online notarization?
You can file form SS-4800 to change the mailing address by mail or in person. A change in Registered Agent or principal address requires filing Articles of Amendment and paying the statutory $20 filing fee. Forms can be found on our the Forms & Fees page for mail and in person filings.
Who must comply?
State and local government: Agencies distributing federal assistance or entities distributing federal assistance to the state or local government entity.
Higher education: college, university, or other post-secondary institution
Local education agency or system of vocational education, or other school system
An entire corporation, partnership, or other private organization, or an entire sole proprietorship
The entire plant or private corporation or other organization which is a geographically separate facility to which federal financial assistance is extended.
What is Title VI?
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says, ”No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d
I'm registered with multiple vendors; do I have to update my remote online notary information with all their information?
Yes, each vendor that you are utilizing their software to remotely notarize documents should be listed in your dashboard under your vendor technologies. You have the option to add new vendor technologies in your dashboard for free. The same documents are required to be uploaded.
What does Title VI not do?
Does not apply to Federal assistance provided through insurance or guaranty contracts, (e.g. FHA loan insurance).
Does not apply to employment, except where employment practices result in discrimination against program beneficiaries or where the purpose of the Federal assistance is to provide employment.
Does not apply to direct benefit programs such as Social Security.
Does not apply only to contracts and set-aside programs.
What are the online notary seal requirements?
In accordance with Tennessee Rule 1360-07-03-.04, an online notary public shall use an electronic seal that substantially conforms to the following design: a circular, square, or rectangular seal with the notary public's name as it appears on the commission printed at the top, the county of election printed at the bottom, the words 'Tennessee Notary Public' printed in the center, and the words "Online Notary Public" printed below. The electronic seal must also be accompanied by a statement of the date upon which the online notary public's commission expires.
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Do you have a list of approved third-party vendors for Online Notaries?
No, the Tennessee Secretary of State does not recommend nor endorse any third-party vendors. Whatever platform you choose should provide identity proofing, credential analysis, and storage for your video recordings of notarial acts. It should also be capable of attaching your electronic seal, electronic signature, and electronic notarial certificate to an electronic document.
How does Title VI apply to Public Policy?
Title VI is a mechanism that directs the federal financial assistance, which drives or promotes economic development. By legislative mandate, Title VI examines the following public policy issues:
Accessibility for all persons
Infrastructure development
Accountability in public funds expenditures
Minority participation in decision making
Disparate impact
Program service delivery
Economic empowerment
Public-Private partnerships in part or whole with public funds
Environmental Justice
Site and location of facilities
What is an Administrative Dissolution?
An Administrative dissolution occurs for the following reasons:
Failure to file an annual report
Being without a registered agent
A foreign entity fails to maintain its assumed name due to a name conflict
Returned payment by a financial institution
What is a Certificate of Existence?
A certificate of existence is a document issued by our office that certifies that an entity is active and in good standing.
What is an Online Notary Public?
In April of 2018, the Tennessee Legislature passed Senate Bill 1758 known as the “Online Notary Public Act”. This Act went in effect as of July 1, 2019. The Act defines “Online Notarization” as “a notarial act performed by means of two-way video and audio conference technology…”. This means that the notary and the principal whose signature is notarized are not in the same place but interact remotely over the internet. All regular notary rules apply to these transactions including the requirement for the notary to confirm the identity and state of mind of the principal, the voluntary nature of the act and the legality of the document. This will require online notaries to have access to significant technological resources via a contract with a third-party online notary vendor. This Act authorizes Tennessee notaries to perform remote online notarizations after the completion of an application and approval from the Tennessee Secretary of State. The steps which must be taken for a notary to perform online notarizations can be found in the Online Notary Public Guide.
How do I handle a complaint about the conduct of a Notary?
A Notary is considered a public official and may be removed from office just as any other official. Complaints concerning official misconduct should be directed to local Law Enforcement in the county in which the Notary is elected or in which the alleged misconduct occurred.
"Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-7-103, the District Attorney General has the duty of prosecuting all violations of state criminal statutes which occur in his or her district. This duty includes prosecutions of criminal acts committed by notaries. A citizen who wishes to file a criminal complaint against a notary public may do so by contacting the District Attorney General of the judicial district in which the alleged criminal conduct occurred and proceeding through the complaint process."
Additionally, as explained in the above opinion of the Attorney General, a notary may be removed from office through the ouster proceedings set forth in Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-17-101.
What documentation do I need to submit with my remote online notary application?
The name of your vendor and a description of the technologies it uses to provide the services listed in the Tennessee Rules [1360-07-03-.02(h), (i), (l ), (m), (n)]
An explanation of the method or technology you will use to maintain an electronic notary journal as required by the Rules;[1360-07-03-.03(12)]
A copy of your unique electronic notarial certificate or other technology for rendering a notarized electronic document tamper-evident;[1360-07-03-.04(13)]
A copy of the instructions or techniques supplied by the vendor that allows the online notary public's electronic notarial certificate to be read and authenticated;[1360-07-03-.04(8)]
A copy of the instructions or techniques supplied by the vendor that allow the online notary public to conduct identity proofing and credential analysis. [1360-07-03-.02(m)]
What is the difference between E-Notaries and Remote Online Notaries?
In e-notarization, the notarization uses digital signatures but must occur in the physical presence of the notary, similarly to a traditional/pen and paper notarization. In remote notarization, the person is not in the physical presence of the notary but is present through audio and visual equipment such as a webcam.
What is an Assumed Name?
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 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.