Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-16-104

Every notary public, before entering upon the duties of office, shall give bond executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state. If a notary public cannot obtain a bond executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, the county legislative body may approve two (2) or more good sureties in lieu of a bond from a surety company. The bond must be in the penalty amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), payable to this state, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of the notary's duties. The notary public shall present the executed official bond to the county clerk in the county where elected. The county clerk shall review the bond presented by the notary public for compliance with this section, and upon the clerk's satisfaction of compliance with this section, shall file the bond in the office of the county clerk. A person elected a notary public that performs an official act as a notary public prior to filing a bond as required by this section commits a Class C misdemeanor.