Notaries Subject to NEW Requirements

Effective, April 24, 2003, Tennessee notaries are subject to a new requirement if they advertise.
The law requires any notary who is not an attorney licensed to practice law and who advertise in any language by radio, television, signs, pamphlet, newspapers and directories, or any other written or oral communication must now include the following disclaimer:

“I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.”

If you advertise in a print medium, the disclaimer should be of conspicuous size.

The law goes on to say that the notary can not hold himself/herself to be an immigration consultant, paralegal, or an expert on immigration unless they are accredited by The Board of Immigration Appeals.

Failure to comply with these requirements constitutes unfair and deceptive acts. The new law exempts employees of banks and those providing notary services associated with loan closings and transfers of title.

Apparently, some notaries were holding themselves out to be attorneys or misrepresenting professional accreditations. Hence, they were able to take advantage of the public or those from other cultures where notary publics are closely associated with the legal profession.