Public Notices

As of July 1, 2025, a number of changes to Tennessee law regarding public notices went into effect. These changes require that all public notices (other than foreclosure notices and state election notices) be published on a separate online news site in addition to the requirement that the notice be published in a printed newspaper of general circulation, that newspaper’s Web site, and the statewide site TNPublicNotice.com.

The law has many requirements that define what makes an online news site qualified to be the secondary publisher of public notices. Those requirements are included below.

The Daily Memphian meets all of these qualifications in Shelby County, Tennessee. Our public notices are freely available to the public at this location: https://dailymemphian.com/section/public-notices. We charge a rate that is calculated by the word. Our invoices include an affidavit showing the public notice as well as list the number of days that the notice was published on our site.

If you wish to run a public notice with us, you can submit the notice to legalnotices@dailymemphian.com. Please make sure that you include contact information such as billing information (Name, Company Name, Company Address), telephone number, and email address with all submissions.

Cost per public notice is $0.15 per word (as of July 1, 2025)

Public notices can be submitted as a word document or pdf. No edits will be made to these notices.

Since we are an online edition, our website is updated throughout the day. All notices received during normal business hours (M-F 8:30-4:30) will be uploaded to our website within 2 business days. Any notices received outside of business hours will be uploaded within 2 business days of the following business day. You will receive an email verification when the notice has been uploaded.

All public notice will be published on our website for 30 days. Invoices will be sent after the notice has completed the 30 days of publication. Invoices will be emailed along with the proof of publication.

Qualifications for an Online News Site

Below is the text of the changes to TCA 1-3-120 that went into effect in 2024 and 2025 and that resulted in public notices being required to be published on a second news website.

Tennessee Code Annotated Section 1-3-120 (updated as of July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025)

(f)(1) Beginning July 1, 2024, when legal notices are required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the notice must also be published on a news and information website that has a URL, if such a website exists, that:

(1) Has been published continuously for the previous twelve-month period;

(2) Has been published using recognized standards of professional journalism;

(3) Must have content revised on a regular basis not less than three (3) times per week;

(4) Bears a fixed title or name and date lines and complies with and abides by all copyright laws;

(5) Does not serve primarily as a platform to promote the interests or opinions of a special interest group, individual, or cause;

(6) Is principally devoted to the dissemination of local or general news with at least fifty percent (50%) of all editorial content reported being original, excluding advertisements; and

(7) Exists and is registered pursuant to state law with the secretary of state. The news and information website must have an office of publication known to be based in the county in which the notice is required to be published and that is available and open to the public where business is transacted during usual business hours, that maintains a telephone number and email listing, and that includes in each updated publication the contact information of the news and information website.

[Beginning July 1, 2025, the following requirements were also added:]

(8) Does not require a fee or a subscription for a person to view the website; and

(9) Is a separate and distinct website from the newspaper of general circulation that is owned by an entity other than the newspaper of general circulation.

(f) (2) The owner of a website where legal notices are published pursuant to subdivision (f)(1) shall:

(A) Charge a rate for such publication that is calculated by the word. The rate for each word must be comparable, but must not exceed, the established rates the owner charges other advertisers; and

(B) Include on the invoice to the person or entity paying for such publication an affidavit listing the number of days the notice was published on the website.

(f) (3) This subsection (f) does not apply to legal notices required by § 35-5-101.

This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.