Help participants change their identities or relocate.
Remove or delete existing public records.
Offer legal advice.
Relieve participants of their legal or financial responsibilities.
What happens to mail sent to the substitute address?
The Safe at Home Program will receive all first class and certified mail sent to the substitute address and then forward that mail to the participant at their designated mailing address.
I work for an agency, how many days before a Rulemaking Hearing must I file a notice?
We recommend filing a Notice of Rulemaking Hearing 52 days prior to the hearing.
The T.C.A. requires a notice to be posted 45 days prior to a hearing. In addition to the 45 days, our office is allotted 7 days to process your agency’s notice prior to posting it online.
I have a question about the rule filing process, who can I contact?
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to filing notices and rules and we are here to help answer your questions! Our Rulemaking Guidelines packet can be a helpful resource to obtain general information about the filing process.
I have a question regarding a posted rule online, who can I contact?
While the Secretary of State’s office is responsible for receiving and posting agency rules and regulations, we are not qualified to answer questions pertaining to rule content.
You can visit the Effective Rules table here. General contact information can be found at the bottom of each Authority’s rules page.
How do I change my business address?
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.
How can I apply for certification or continuing education credit?
You may obtain Form #SS-4507, Application for Certification of Municipal Clerks & Recorders and Continuing Education Credit, from our website or upon request from our office.
For certification, the application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate(s) from the institution(s) at which the qualifications were completed. The certificate(s) (other than a degree) should indicate the number of hours completed. If credit is claimed for job-related seminars, then documents must also be submitted outlining seminar content.
For continuing education credit, the application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate(s) of attendance and a statement as to the number of credit hours completed. If credit is claimed for job-related seminars, then documents must also be submitted outlining seminar content. Please note that the Division of Business Services does not pre-certify seminars for content applicability or for applicable credit hours. Applications are accepted by mail, fax or in person. Upon receipt and approval of an application, the Division of Business Services will issue to the applicant a certificate confirming the certification or continuing education credit.
How do I apply?
The Office of the Secretary of State has developed an application form that must be used to apply for the program, which captures all required information and must be completed with the assistance of a Certified Application Assistant, who must also sign the application. The application must be submitted to the Safe at Home Program by a certified application assistant.