TN Notary Fees and Compensation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum fee a Tennessee notary may charge per notarial act?
- $2.00
- $5.00 (Correct answer)
- $10.00
- $25.00
Correct answer: $5.00
Tennessee law caps the fee a notary may charge at $5.00 per notarial act.
Question 2: Can a Tennessee notary charge a travel fee in addition to the notarial fee?
- No, only the statutory fee is allowed
- Yes, a reasonable travel fee may be charged if agreed upon in advance (Correct answer)
- Only if the travel is more than 50 miles
- Only for real estate closings
Correct answer: Yes, a reasonable travel fee may be charged if agreed upon in advance
A notary may charge a separate, reasonable travel fee as long as the fee is disclosed and agreed upon by the signer before travel occurs.
Question 3: A Tennessee notary notarizes five signatures on a single document. How many fees may they charge?
- One fee for the entire document
- One fee per signature notarized (Correct answer)
- One fee per page
- No fee for multiple signatures on the same document
Correct answer: One fee per signature notarized
Each individual notarial act (e.g., each signature notarized) is a separate act and may be charged a separate fee, up to the statutory maximum per act.
Question 4: Is a Tennessee notary required to charge a fee for notarization?
- Yes, they must always charge the statutory fee
- No, a notary may choose to waive or reduce their fee (Correct answer)
- Only for commercial transactions
- Only for government documents
Correct answer: No, a notary may choose to waive or reduce their fee
A notary is not required to charge a fee and may waive or discount their fee at their discretion.
Question 5: Which of the following would be an improper basis for charging a higher notarial fee in Tennessee?
- The notary traveled to the signer's location
- The notarization required unusual expertise
- The signer's urgency for same-day service
- The type of identification the signer presented (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The type of identification the signer presented
The type of ID a signer presents is not a valid reason to charge a higher fee; fees should be based on acts performed and disclosed travel, not on identity verification tools.
Question 6: A Tennessee employer requires its notary employees to notarize documents for free. Is this permitted?
- No, employers cannot waive statutory fees
- Yes, an employer may set policies requiring free notarizations for company work (Correct answer)
- Only with Secretary of State approval
- Only for non-profit employers
Correct answer: Yes, an employer may set policies requiring free notarizations for company work
Employers may require notary employees to perform notarizations without charge as a condition of employment, which does not violate the fee statute.
TN Notary Fees and Compensation 1
What is the maximum fee a Tennessee notary may charge per notarial act?