Notary Public Seal

The notary must purchase an official seal.  The secretary of state prescribes the design of the seal, which is to be imprinted by a rubber or other type stamp in any color other than black or yellow as long as it is clearly legible and appears black on a non-color copier; however, the law provides that a document will not be invalid nor will there be any criminal or civil liability if a notary uses the wrong color ink.  Also, the use of an embossed notary seal after May 12, 2003, does not render an acknowledgment defective. The seal must be surrendered to the county legislative body upon expiration of the notary’s term of office or resignation and the personal representative must surrender the seal in the event of the death of the notary.  T.C.A. § 8-16-114.  The current design prescribed by the Secretary of State is circular, and has the notary’s name (as commissioned) printed at the top, the county of election at the bottom, and State of Tennessee Notary Public in the center.  The county clerk may obtain the official seal for the notary public at the notary’s request.  For providing this service the county clerk may charge a fee not exceeding twenty percent (20%) of the cost of the seal.  T.C.A. § 8-16-114.