TN Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What shape is required for a Tennessee notary's official seal?
- Circular only
- Rectangular only
- Either circular or rectangular (Correct answer)
- Triangular
Correct answer: Either circular or rectangular
Tennessee law allows a notary seal to be either circular or rectangular in shape.
Question 2: What information must appear on a Tennessee notary's official seal?
- Only the notary's name
- The notary's name, the words 'Notary Public,' and 'State of Tennessee' (Correct answer)
- The notary's commission number and expiration date only
- The county and the notary's Social Security number
Correct answer: The notary's name, the words 'Notary Public,' and 'State of Tennessee'
A Tennessee notary seal must display the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public,' and 'State of Tennessee.'
Question 3: What should a Tennessee notary do if their seal is lost or stolen?
- Continue using a handwritten substitute until replacement arrives
- Stop notarizing and notify the Secretary of State, then obtain a new seal (Correct answer)
- Report only to the local sheriff
- Immediately resign their commission
Correct answer: Stop notarizing and notify the Secretary of State, then obtain a new seal
A notary whose seal is lost or stolen should cease notarizing, notify the Secretary of State, and obtain a replacement seal before resuming notarial duties.
Question 4: Can a Tennessee notary use an ink stamp as their official seal?
- No, only embossing seals are permitted
- Yes, ink stamps are acceptable official seals in Tennessee (Correct answer)
- Only if the stamp uses black ink
- Only for electronic documents
Correct answer: Yes, ink stamps are acceptable official seals in Tennessee
Tennessee allows notaries to use an inked rubber stamp as their official seal, in addition to the traditional embossing seal.
Question 5: After a Tennessee notary's commission expires, what should they do with their seal?
- Keep it for potential future use
- Destroy it or deface it so it cannot be used fraudulently (Correct answer)
- Donate it to the county clerk's office
- Return it to the Secretary of State
Correct answer: Destroy it or deface it so it cannot be used fraudulently
Upon commission expiration, a notary should destroy or deface their seal to prevent it from being used for fraudulent notarizations.
Question 6: Must a Tennessee notary's seal impression be legible on the notarized document?
- No, legibility is not required
- Yes, the seal must be clear and legible to be valid (Correct answer)
- Only for recorded documents
- Only for documents over $1,000 in value
Correct answer: Yes, the seal must be clear and legible to be valid
The seal impression must be clear and legible; a smudged or illegible seal may cause the document to be rejected by recording offices.
TN Notary Seal and Stamp Requirements 1
What shape is required for a Tennessee notary's official seal?