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.
How do I decide on the business structure for my Company?
I work for an agency, how many days before a Rulemaking Hearing must I file a notice?
Notices of Rulemaking Hearing must be filed at least 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 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.
Domestic and Foreign Nonprofit Corporation filings can be filed through our online filing system.
Are participants able to be selected for jury duty?
Program Participants are not subject to selection for state or municipal jury duty. T.C.A. § 40-38-607.
Program participants should not appear on state or municipal jury selection lists. If a program participant is selected for jury service, the summoning court should excuse the program participant.
If a program participant receives a jury summons for either state or municipal jury duty, the Participant must notify the summoning court of the participant's exempt status and provide a copy of the Participant's Certificate of Program Participation, if requested.
Participants may not fail to respond to a jury summons.
Where can I find a Certified Application Assistant?
Certified Application Assistants work with various state and local agencies and/or nonprofit agencies that provide counseling and shelter services to victims of domestic abuse and other crimes. At list of Certified Application Assistants can be found here. Safe at Home is most effective as part of an overall safety plan. Additional information regarding safety plans can be found here.
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.
Who is not eligible to participate in the program?
Any person who is required by law to be registered under any of the following is not eligible to participate in the program:
Tennessee Sexual Offender and Violent Sexual Offender Registration Verification and Tracking Act of 2004, compiled at Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2;
Tennessee Animal Abuser Registration Act, compiled at Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 1
Registry of persons who have abused, neglected, or misappropriated the property of vulnerable individuals, compiled at Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 10; or,
Drug offender registry under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-436.
When Can the Substitute Address be Used?
Whenever a program participant is required by law to swear to or affirm the participant’s address, the participant may use the participant’s substitute address. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
Wherever a program participant is required by law to establish residency, the participant may use the participant’s substitute address. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
The substitute address may be used for motor vehicle records and may be printed on a drivers license. T.C.A. § 40-38-602.
The substitute address may also be used as your official mailing address for all public utilities and public utility service providers. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
Participants may also request that private entities use the substitute address, although they are not required to do so.
Who can apply to the Safe at Home program?
An individual should consider applying if they are victims of domestic abuse, stalking, human trafficking, or any sexual offense, who:
are attempting to escape an abuser, stalker, or other aggressor;
are currently residing in a domestic violence shelter or other crisis shelter;
are currently temporarily residing with family or friends;
have moved to a new home within the previous 30 days;
have children; or
rely upon, or will need to rely upon, public assistance programs.
The application can be completed by:
Any adult may apply on their own behalf
A parent may apply on behalf of their minor child
A fiduciary, such as a guardian or conservator, may apply on behalf of a minor or a person with a disability
Can public utilities ask participants for their residential street address?
Program participants may be required to provide their residential street address to a public utility service provider for the purpose of obtaining utility services. However, participants can request that their residential address be treated as confidential by presenting the public service utility with a certificate of program participation.
After doing so, the public utility service provider must treat the residential address and all other identifying information as confidential in accordance with the Tennessee Public Records Act, compiled at Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5.
Do private businesses have to accept a Safe at Home Participant's substitute address?
Private businesses are not required by statute to accept a Safe at Home Participant's substitute address. However, private companies or agencies are encouraged to make every effort to keep a participant’s information safe by accepting the substitute address whenever possible. If agency or business employees have questions about using the substitute address, they may contact the Safe at Home Program directly.
When can the Substitute Address NOT be used?
When listing, appraising, or assessing property taxes;
When collecting property taxes;
On any document related to real property recorded with a county clerk or recorder.