# Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-304: Effective time and date of document > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-304 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-304 - **Heading:** Effective time and date of document - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 48 / Chapter 51 / Section 48-51-304 ## Text (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and § 48-51-305(c) , a document accepted for filing is effective: (1) At the time of filing on the date it is filed by the secretary of state, as evidenced by the secretary of state's date and time endorsement on the original document; or (2) At the time specified in the document as its effective time on the date it is filed. (b) A document may specify a delayed effective time and date and, if it does so, the document becomes effective at the time and date specified. If a delayed effective date but no time is specified, the document is effective at the close of business on that date. A delayed effective date for a document may not be later than the ninetieth day after the date it is filed by the secretary of state. Notwithstanding the foregoing, documents specified in § 48-51-303(a)(3)-(7), (16), (20), (21), (25), (31), (33), (34) , may not specify a delayed effective time and date. (c) The secretary of state shall not file any charter or application for a certificate of authority unless that document designates the registered agent and registered office of such domestic or foreign corporation in accordance with chapters 55 and 65 of this title. The secretary of state shall not file any other document under chapters 51-68 of this title if at the time of filing the domestic or foreign corporation does not have a registered agent or registered office designated at such time, unless at the time such document is received for filing the secretary of state also receives for filing a statement designating such registered agent or registered office, or both. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 899,s 13, eff. 1/1/2015. Acts 1987, ch. 242, § 1.33; 1991, ch. 188, § 13. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and § 48-51-305(c) , a document accepted for filing is effective: (1) At the time of filing on the date it is filed by the secretary of state, as evidenced by the secretary of state's date and time endorsement on the original document; or (2) At the time specified in the document as its effective time on the date it is filed. (1) At the time of filing on the date it is filed by the secretary of state, as evidenced by the secretary of state's date and time endorsement on the original document; or (2) At the time specified in the document as its effective time on the date it is filed. (b) A document may specify a delayed effective time and date and, if it does so, the document becomes effective at the time and date specified. If a delayed effective date but no time is specified, the document is effective at the close of business on that date. A delayed effective date for a document may not be later than the ninetieth day after the date it is filed by the secretary of state. Notwithstanding the foregoing, documents specified in § 48-51-303(a)(3)-(7), (16), (20), (21), (25), (31), (33), (34) , may not specify a delayed effective time and date. (c) The secretary of state shall not file any charter or application for a certificate of authority unless that document designates the registered agent and registered office of such domestic or foreign corporation in accordance with chapters 55 and 65 of this title. The secretary of state shall not file any other document under chapters 51-68 of this title if at the time of filing the domestic or foreign corporation does not have a registered agent or registered office designated at such time, unless at the time such document is received for filing the secretary of state also receives for filing a statement designating such registered agent or registered office, or both. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 899,s 13, eff. 1/1/2015. Acts 1987, ch. 242, § 1.33; 1991, ch. 188, § 13. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-102 Reservation of power to amend or repeal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-103 Eminent domain](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-104 Applicability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-201 Definitions for chapters 51 through 68](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-202 Notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-301 Filing requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-301.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-302 Forms and filing methods](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-302.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-303 Filing, service, and copying fees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-303.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-304 Effective time and date of document](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-304.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-305 Correcting filed document](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-305.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-306 Filing duty of secretary of state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-306.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-307 Appeal from secretary of state's refusal to file document](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-307.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-51-308 Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-308.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T48_C51_S48-51-304. 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