Rules for Power of Attorney

• Who issues apostilles in Tennessee

  Apostilles/authentications are issued by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Business Services Division for documents executed, issued, or certified under Tennessee law.

• Eligible document types

  POAs and other documents notarized by a Tennessee notary, or public documents certified by county clerks, state registrars, or the Secretary of State.

• Notarized documents require county-clerk certification before apostille request

  Private documents (like POAs) notarized by a “Notary Public At Large” must then have the notary’s signature certified by the County Clerk where the notary is commissioned.

• Request form must accompany documents

  Submit completed Apostille/Authentication Request Form (SS-4504), the original or certified POA, and required fee.

• Apostille / Authentication fee

  Fee is $2.00 per document for Tennessee apostille/authentication services.

• Destination country must be specified

  The form must indicate whether the document is for a Hague Convention country (apostille) or a non-Hague country (authentication).

• Foreign-language documents require translation + notarization + county certification

  Non-English docs need a certified English translation with the translator’s notarized affidavit and county-clerk certification of the notary’s signature.

• Out-of-state or federal documents not eligible

  Tennessee will not apostille/authenticate documents issued outside Tennessee or federal documents, except certain passport copies — such docs must be processed through origin state or U.S. Dept. of State.

• Apostille only certifies signature/seal — not content

  The apostille confirms authenticity of the signature, seal, and signer’s capacity — it does not validate the content of the POA.