Tennessee Apostille Services

Before you start

1. 1Identify the document type and the office that issued it.
2. 2Confirm the destination country's treaty relationship and the receiving authority's exact requirements.
3. 3Send us a scan for preparation review before committing originals.

Notarized documents have a county step

• For a Tennessee notarized document, first obtain the proper notarial act.
• Then have the notary's signature certified by the County Clerk in the county where that notary was commissioned.
• Submit that certification with the document and state request.
• The relevant county is the notary's commissioning county, which may differ from where you currently live.

State Registrar records follow a different path

• The state request form permits documents bearing the Tennessee State Registrar's signature — including birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates — to be submitted without notarization.
• Documents signed by the Tennessee Secretary of State also have this exemption.
• Do not add a notary stamp to a government-certified record merely because the guide for private notarized documents describes a county step.
• This exemption applies to State Registrar and Secretary of State signatures specifically — it does not extend to court decrees or other court-issued documents.

Ordering a new vital record and requesting an apostille

• If you already hold the certified certificate, the Department of Health directs you to send it with your request and fee to the Secretary of State.
• If you need a new certified copy, Vital Records offers a forwarding option: follow the record-order instructions and provide separate payments for the certified copies and the apostille.
• Vital Records prepares the copies and forwards the package; the Secretary of State issues the apostille and returns the documents as instructed.
• Record access and identification requirements still apply.

A divorce certificate is not the full court decree

• A divorce decree is the court order ending the marriage and may include terms the receiving authority needs to see.
• A vital-record divorce certificate serves a different purpose.
• Ask the overseas recipient which record it requires.
• For the decree, contact the clerk of the court that handled the divorce.
• Before ordering a court copy for apostille, confirm the required certification and signature chain with Tennessee's authentication office — the State Registrar exemption does not apply to court decrees.

University documents need preparation before state submission

• Contact your school's registrar about overseas authentication before placing an ordinary diploma or transcript order.
• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville publishes a dedicated International Use section on its diploma page.
• Check the university's current preparation time before ordering; university preparation, state processing and delivery are separate.
• Its CeDiploma is a digital credential that cannot be printed; ask about the correct document format instead of treating a printout as a paper original.

Where UT Knoxville graduates can ask for guidance

• The university's credential portal lists [email protected] for apostille questions.
• Describe whether the recipient needs a diploma, transcript or another academic record and provide the destination requirements.
• Follow the university's current instructions before arranging the remaining authentication steps.

Prepare the state request and return delivery

• Use Form SS-4504 and identify the country where the documents will be used.
• Verify the current state fee on the linked form before sending payment.
• Include the required documents and certifications.
• Government charges are separate from document ordering, shipping and any private service fees.

Mailing and visiting use different floors

• For express return, provide a prepaid label showing your name as both sender and recipient — the state cannot use a label naming the Secretary of State as sender.
• Check current office availability before traveling.

Federal records follow a different route

• FBI background checks and federal court records belong to the federal authentication process through the U.S. Department of State.
• Follow its preparation instructions for original or certified federal documents; do not notarize the federal original.
• Tennessee processing does not replace federal authentication.
• A packet containing records from multiple issuing authorities may need more than one route.

Confirm the destination's requirements

• An apostille authenticates the document's origin rather than approving its contents or guaranteeing acceptance for every purpose.
• Confirm whether the Apostille Convention applies to the destination and the United States, or whether authentication and consular legalization are needed.
• Ask the receiving office about translations, document age, complete court orders and supporting records before preparing the package.

Tennessee document routing

Coordinate Tennessee documents with Miami Dade Apostille

• We assist with document review, state and federal processing coordination, and certified translations through qualified translators.
• We handle the required steps from start to finish, so you do not have to navigate each office on your own.
• Eligible private documents may qualify for remote online notarization, subject to identity, witness, document and recipient requirements. A Florida notarial act follows the Florida route and cannot replace Tennessee public-record certification.
• We are a private service, not a government agency or law firm, and do not provide legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Tennessee locations served

Miami Dade Apostille serves clients throughout Tennessee by mail. Documents can be sent from anywhere in the state — no in-person visit to our office is required.

• Nashville
• Memphis
• Knoxville
• Chattanooga
• Clarksville
• Murfreesboro
• Franklin
• Jackson
• Johnson City
• Brentwood

Sources

• Tennessee SOS: apostille and authentication guide ↗
• Tennessee SOS Form SS-4504 (PDF) ↗
• Tennessee Vital Records: apostille on a certificate ↗
• UT Knoxville: diplomas and international use ↗
• UT Knoxville: credential portal ↗
• USA.gov: divorce decree ↗
• U.S. Department of State: apostille certificate ↗