Guide

What ID Do I Need for a Notary in Tennessee?

Exactly what photo ID Tennessee notaries can accept, what to do if your ID is expired, the credible-witness workaround, and special rules for hospitals and jails.

The short answer

A Tennessee notary needs to satisfactorily identify you before notarizing your signature. The standard way is a current, government-issued photo ID. That includes:

• Tennessee driver's license or state-issued photo ID
• Any other state's driver's license or ID (yes, an out-of-state license is fine)
• U.S. passport or passport card
• Military ID (active duty, reserve, dependent, or retired)
• Permanent resident card (green card)
• Foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa
• Tribal ID issued by a recognized tribe

What does "current" mean?

Not expired. Tennessee best practice is that the ID must be unexpired on the date of the notarial act. A driver's license that expired last week is not acceptable, even if your name and photo are obviously you. Some notaries will accept an ID expired within a short window, but the safe rule is: bring a current ID.

If your ID expired during the COVID-era TN renewal extension and you have proof of that extension, talk to your notary in advance — every notary handles this case differently.

What does NOT work

• Expired ID (more than briefly — see above)
• Photocopies or photos of an ID (must be the physical card)
• Library card, gym membership, school ID without photo and DOB
• Credit card or debit card
• Social Security card
• Birth certificate (proves citizenship, not identity for notary purposes)
• Hospital wristband

What if you don't have an acceptable ID?

Tennessee allows two credible witnesses to identify a signer who lacks acceptable ID. The rules:

• Both witnesses must personally know the signer (i.e., have known them long enough to vouch for who they are)
• Both witnesses must have valid photo ID themselves and be present at the notarization
• Neither witness can be named in or benefit from the document
• The notary records the credible-witness procedure in the journal

This is the workaround for elderly signers whose driver's license has lapsed, hospital patients without their wallet, and similar situations. Plan in advance — the witnesses need to physically come to the appointment.

Hospital and bedside special rules

When we do bedside signings at Vanderbilt, Saint Thomas, or any Nashville hospital, the patient must still be identifiable and competent to sign. We'll work with you to find the right ID — a passport, an out-of-state driver's license stashed in the patient's belongings, or two credible witnesses. We can't notarize for someone who is unconscious or cannot communicate.

Jail and correctional facility special rules

For inmate signings, the inmate's jail booking ID typically serves as identification — the facility verifies identity at intake. The notary still needs to confirm the inmate is the named signer through facility records. Advance scheduling is required for any jail signing.

Quick checklist before any TN notarization

• Bring your current government-issued photo ID
• Bring the document UNSIGNED — Tennessee notaries can't notarize a signature already made out of their presence (except for proof-of-execution acknowledgments)
• Bring any required witnesses (most documents don't need them, but some do)
• Know what kind of notarization you need (acknowledgment vs. jurat — the notary will guide you, but knowing helps)

FAQ