TN Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Tennessee notary forgets to affix their seal to a completed notarial certificate. What is the effect?
- The notarization is fully valid
- The notarization is defective and may be rejected (Correct answer)
- The notary must be fined automatically
- The signer must re-execute the document
Correct answer: The notarization is defective and may be rejected
Omitting the seal from a notarial certificate makes the notarization defective, and the document may be rejected until the seal is properly affixed.
Question 2: Can a Tennessee notary allow their employer to keep their notary seal?
- Yes, employers own the seal because they paid for it
- No, the seal belongs to the notary personally and must remain under the notary's control (Correct answer)
- Only if the notary signs an agreement
- Only for government employers
Correct answer: No, the seal belongs to the notary personally and must remain under the notary's control
The notary seal is the personal property of the notary and must remain under the notary's exclusive control regardless of who purchased it.
Question 3: What must a Tennessee notary do if they change their name during their commission?
- Continue using the old seal until commission renewal
- Obtain a new seal reflecting the new name and notify the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Use both the old and new names on the seal
- Submit a court order to the county clerk
Correct answer: Obtain a new seal reflecting the new name and notify the Secretary of State
Upon a legal name change, the notary must obtain a new seal bearing the new name and notify the Secretary of State to update their official records.
Question 4: Which of the following is a valid color of ink for a Tennessee notary ink stamp seal?
- Red ink only
- Blue ink only
- Black ink only
- Any color that produces a clear, reproducible impression (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Any color that produces a clear, reproducible impression
Tennessee does not restrict the ink color for a notary stamp as long as the impression is clear and can be reproduced in photocopies or scans.
Question 5: Can a Tennessee notary use the same seal for both paper and electronic notarizations?
- Yes, one seal covers all notarizations
- No, electronic notarizations require a separate electronic seal or stamp (Correct answer)
- Only if the electronic seal is a scan of the physical one
- Only for in-state electronic documents
Correct answer: No, electronic notarizations require a separate electronic seal or stamp
Electronic notarizations require an electronic seal that can be attached to electronic documents, separate from the physical rubber or embossing seal used for paper documents.
Question 6: What information does a notary seal NOT need to include under Tennessee law?
- The notary's name
- The words 'State of Tennessee'
- The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The words 'Notary Public'
Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date
Tennessee law requires the seal to show the notary's name, 'Notary Public,' and 'State of Tennessee,' but does not require the commission expiration date to appear on the seal itself.
TN Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 2
A Tennessee notary forgets to affix their seal to a completed notarial certificate.
What is the effect?