Click Here for Online Notary Applications
General Information
A Notary Public is a public official whose powers and duties are defined by statute. A Notary has the power to acknowledge signatures upon personal knowledge or satisfactory proof, administer oaths, record and/or transcribe depositions, and confirm the authenticity of signatures on affidavits. A Notary’s powers and duties can be exercised in all counties in the State of Tennessee.
Qualifications
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the county, or maintain a principal place of business in the county from which they are elected.
How to Become a Notary Public
- Application and Fee
Applicants may either complete the online application at the link above, or download an Application for Notary Public. Mail the completed, notarized application along with the fee of $12.00 payable to “Knox County Clerk” to: Knox County Clerk’s Office Notary Division, P.O. Box 1566, Knoxville, TN 37901.
Those who prefer to apply in person may do so at any of the Clerk's Office Locations. Please bring the completed, notarized application and fee of $12.00. The Knox County Clerk’s office can notarize the applicant’s signature while in our office for an additional $5.00 fee. Applications must be received by the 3rd Wednesday of the month in order to be approved during that month’s Commission meeting. - Obtain Commission Date
After approval, the Clerk's office forwards the applications to the Secretary of State's Office. The Secretary of State will assign commission dates and print Notary Certificates for each applicant. To search for a Notary Commission by name, please visit the Secretary of State’s website here: Notary Commission Search After the 15th of the following month, applicants may also call the Clerk's office at (865) 215-2383 to receive their commission date. - Surety Bond
Once the commission date is obtained, contact any surety company authorized to do business as a surety in Tennessee, and purchase a Ten Thousand Dollar ($10,000.00) Surety Bond. The bond is payable to the state and conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties of a notary public. - Oath
After securing the bond, applicants may contact the Clerk’s office at the telephone number below in order to select a Clerk’s office location to have his/her certificate sent. At the office, the applicant will take the oath of office and file their surety bond. The fee to file this bond with the Knox County Clerk is $2.00. Please note: You are not authorized to act as a notary public until you received your commission from the Governor, filed your bond, and taken the oath of office.
Phone: 865.215.2383
Fax: 865.215.2620
Email: county.clerk@knoxcounty.org
Additional Notary Services
Notary Certifications
The Knox County Clerk’s Office certifies Notaries Public for apostilles, applications for adoption, court action and various other purposes. There is a $5.00 fee for Notary Certifications. This service is available at all Knox County Clerk locations.
Notarizing Documents
The Knox County Clerk’s Office can notarize various documents for a fee of $3.00. Please provide a government issued photo identification, such as a Tennessee Driver License.
Forms and Resources
Payment Information
