TN Notary Oaths and Affirmations

Question 1

What is required for a Tennessee notary to administer a valid oath?

Accepted Answer

The signer must raise their right hand and verbally swear or affirm

Answer

A valid oath requires the signer to make a verbal declaration (swearing or affirming) before the notary, typically with their hand raised.

Question 2

Which of the following is a lawful affirmation wording a Tennessee notary may use?

Accepted Answer

Do you solemnly affirm, under penalty of perjury, that the statements in this document are true?

Answer

A proper affirmation asks the signer to solemnly affirm the truthfulness of their statements under penalty of perjury, without invoking a deity.

Question 3

Can a Tennessee notary administer an oath to themselves?

Accepted Answer

No, a notary cannot administer a notarial act to themselves

Answer

A Tennessee notary may not perform any notarial act—including administering an oath—for themselves, as this would be a direct conflict of interest.

Question 4

What happens if a notary fails to actually administer the oral oath before completing a jurat?

Accepted Answer

The jurat is defective because the oral oath is a required element

Answer

The oral oath or affirmation is an essential element of a jurat; omitting it makes the jurat invalid even if the signer signed in the notary's presence.

Question 5

A signer objects to swearing an oath for religious reasons. What should a Tennessee notary do?

Accepted Answer

Offer an affirmation instead, which is legally equivalent

Answer

Tennessee law recognizes affirmations as legally equivalent to oaths, allowing the notary to accommodate signers who cannot swear for religious or conscientious reasons.

TN Notary - Tennessee Notary Exam Practice Test

TN Notary - Tennessee Notary Exam Practice Test

TN Notary Oaths and Affirmations