Is Remote Online Notarization Legal in Tennessee? (2026)

Remote online notarization is legal in Tennessee under Tenn. Code Ann. §8-16-301 et seq. and Rule 1360-07-03. Tennessee’s SOS guidance indicates a $25 per-session cap. Notaries must comply with both the statute and the administrative rule before performing remote sessions.

Is remote online notarization legal in Tennessee? Yes — Tennessee authorizes remote online notarization under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-301 et seq. and Rule 1360-07-03. Tennessee’s SOS guidance indicates a $25 per-session cap. Both the statute and the administrative rule must be followed. Tennessee was an early RON adopter in the Southeast, building one of the more established frameworks in the region.

Tennessee’s RON Framework: Statute and Administrative Rule

Tennessee’s remote online notarization is authorized by Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-301 et seq., with implementing administrative rules at Rule 1360-07-03 issued through the Secretary of State. This dual-layer structure — statute providing authorization and administrative rule providing technical specifications — is a common and effective approach that separates legislative intent from operational detail. Tennessee notaries must work from both sources for a complete compliance picture.

Rule 1360-07-03 addresses platform technical standards, identity verification procedures, electronic journal requirements, and recording retention specifications. The statute alone is not sufficient for full compliance — the administrative rule layer is essential. Notaries in Tennessee must register with the Secretary of State before conducting remote sessions.

Tennessee’s $25 Per-Session Cap

Tennessee’s SOS guidance indicates a $25 per-session fee cap for remote online notarizations. This cap is in line with the $25 maximum used by many states and provides a clear ceiling for the notarial fee component. Platform technology fees charged separately by the RON provider are distinct from the notarial fee and require advance disclosure. Notaries should confirm current fee guidance from the SOS before establishing pricing, as administrative guidance may be updated.

Nashville’s Economic Ascent

Nashville has experienced one of the most dramatic economic rises of any U.S. city over the past decade. The city has attracted major corporate headquarters relocations and expansions — Amazon’s Operations Center of Excellence, Oracle’s corporate headquarters, Nissan North America, HCA Healthcare (one of the country’s largest hospital systems) — along with sustained population growth driven by an affordable cost of living, no state income tax, and a dynamic cultural and business environment. This growth has driven Nashville’s real estate market to extraordinary heights and created substantial demand for professional document services.

Nashville’s healthcare sector — anchored by HCA, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and an enormous healthcare management industry — generates consistent notarization demand for corporate governance, employment, and real estate documents. The music and entertainment industry creates licensing, publishing, and intellectual property agreement notarization needs.

Memphis and Tennessee’s Logistics Economy

Memphis — Tennessee’s second-largest city — is one of the country’s most important logistics and distribution hubs, home to FedEx’s global headquarters and a massive logistics infrastructure. This generates ongoing corporate, employment, and real estate document activity. Memphis’s healthcare sector (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Methodist Le Bonheur) and manufacturing base round out the city’s document demand profile. RON serves both Memphis’s professional markets and the rural communities extending across western and middle Tennessee.

Getting Started in Tennessee

For Tennessee notaries pursuing RON authorization under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-301 et seq. — including Rule 1360-07-03 compliance, the $25 cap, SOS registration, platform selection, and step-by-step guidance — see the Tennessee RON notary how-to guide.