Before entering into office, the county clerk must take and subscribe to the constitutional oath and the oath of office known as the fidelity oath. T.C.A. § 8-18-111. Oaths of office are covered under the General Information tab of the County Offices topic. The deputy's oath of office is the same as that of the county clerk; it must be certified, filed, and endorsed in the same manner. T.C.A. § 8-18-112.

Prior to entering into the duties of the office, the county clerk must post either a $100,000 official bond in counties with a population of 15,000 or more, or a $50,000 bond in counties with a population of less than 15,000. T.C.A. § 18-6-101. The bond must be approved by the county mayor.  If a County Clerk is acting as clerk of a court, the judge of that court should also approve the official bond, and may require a greater bond. Bonds are covered in more detail under the General Information tab of the County Offices topic.