PRIVACY POLICY

Smoky Mountain Notary

Online & Mobile Notary Services

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

Smoky Mountain Notary (“we,” “our,” or “us”) provides Remote Online Notarization (RON) and mobile notary services across Tennessee and nationwide. Protecting your personal and document information is a core part of our business.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your information when you visit smokymtnnotary.com or use our services.

We collect only the information necessary to provide secure, compliant notary services.

• Name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Address (when required for service)

• Documents submitted for notarization

• Government-issued identification

• Identity verification data (including credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication — KBA)

• IP address

• Browser and device information

• Website activity (via tools such as Google Analytics)

Your information is used strictly to:

• Schedule and complete notarizations

• Verify identity in compliance with Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 8-16-301 et seq.)

• Process payments and communicate with you

• Maintain legally required notary records and journals

• Improve website performance and user experience

We do not use your information for unrelated marketing purposes, and we do not sell or rent your personal data.

We retain your information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law. The following retention periods apply:

• RON audio-video session recordings: Minimum 5 years, as required by Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 8-16-313)

• Notary journals and electronic records: Minimum 5 years from the date of the notarial act

• Identity verification data: Retained only as long as required for compliance and legal purposes

• General account and contact information: Retained while your account is active or as needed to provide services

After applicable retention periods have passed, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

As a Tennessee-commissioned online notary, we follow strict legal and security standards for every RON session:

• Audio-video recording of all sessions (required by Tennessee law)

• Secure identity verification using KBA (knowledge-based authentication) and credential analysis

• Tamper-evident digital documents with cryptographic seals

• Secure, encrypted storage of recordings and notary journals

• All RON sessions are conducted using trusted platforms with TLS encryption in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest

We take data protection seriously and employ the following safeguards:

• TLS/SSL encryption for all data transmitted through our website and RON platform

• AES-256 encryption for stored documents and recordings

• Access controls limiting sensitive data to authorized personnel only

• Encrypted document transmission methods for all client files

• Industry-standard security practices appropriate for legal document handling

While no system is 100% immune from security risks, we operate with a security-first approach and continuously review our practices to protect your information.

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by the Tennessee Identity Theft Deterrence Act (T.C.A. § 47-18-2107) and any other applicable law. Notification will be provided:

• In the most expedient time possible following discovery of the breach

• Via email to the address associated with your account, or by written notice if email is unavailable

• Including a description of the type of information involved and steps you can take to protect yourself

We will also notify relevant state and federal authorities as required by law.

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share information only when necessary with the following parties:

• RON platform providers used to complete your notarization session

• Payment processors to handle billing and transactions

• Government agencies when legally required (e.g., court orders, subpoenas)

• Service providers necessary to fulfill your notarization request

All third-party service providers are required to handle your information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance performance and analyze traffic. Cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site so we can improve your experience.

You may disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. Note that disabling cookies may affect certain website functionality.

Tennessee residents may have rights under applicable state privacy law, including the right to request access to or deletion of personal data we hold about you (where legally permitted).

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with specific rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Know: You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal data we have collected about you.

• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.

• Right to Opt-Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information. You therefore have no need to opt out, but this right exists and we honor it.

• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.

To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us using the information in Section 12. We will respond to verifiable requests within the timeframes required by applicable law.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Our notary services are intended for adults (18 years of age or older). We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from individuals under the age of 18. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, we will delete it promptly.

For questions about this Privacy Policy, to make a data access or deletion request, or to report a privacy concern, please contact:

Smoky Mountain Notary

☎ 865-386-7398

✉ Info@SmokyMtnNotary.com

🌐 https://smokymtnnotary.com

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we do:

• The revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated Effective Date

• For material changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you (e.g., via email or a notice on our website)

• Your continued use of our services after the updated policy is posted constitutes your acceptance of the changes

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Smoky Mountain Notary • 865-386-7398 • smokymtnnotary.com