What Is a Healthcare Directive?
A healthcare directive is a legal document that outlines your medical treatment preferences and designates someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. In California, these documents are often called an Advance Health Care Directive and typically include two parts:
- Part 1 — Power of Attorney for Health Care: Names a healthcare agent (a trusted person) to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.
- Part 2 — Individual Instructions: Specifies your wishes about end-of-life treatment, resuscitation, artificial nutrition, and other medical decisions.
Related Documents We Also Notarize
- Living Will — Documents your wishes about life-sustaining treatment if you have a terminal condition or permanent unconscious state.
- POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) — A medical order (not a directive) signed by a physician. Does not require notarization but is often requested alongside other directive documents.
- DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order — A physician-signed medical order. Not notarized, but often coordinated with advance directive signing.
- Healthcare Power of Attorney — Can be a standalone document or part of a durable power of attorney package.
Notarized vs. Witnessed Directives — What's the Difference?
California law gives you two options for executing an Advance Health Care Directive:
- Option 1: Signed before a notary public (our service)
- Option 2: Signed before two adult witnesses who are not healthcare providers, family members, heirs, or those with a financial interest in your estate
Why choose notarization over witnesses? A notarized directive is more universally accepted by hospitals, care facilities, and insurance companies. It removes the risk of a witness being ineligible. Many healthcare providers prefer notarized directives because the notary's official seal and journal entry provide a clear verification record.
🏥 Hospital Urgency: If a loved one is in the hospital and needs an advance directive executed immediately, we can often be there same day. Don't delay — call (916) 222-2251.
What to Have Ready
- Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- Your completed, unsigned Advance Health Care Directive form
- The name and contact info of your designated healthcare agent (they do not need to be present)
- Any alternate healthcare agents you wish to name
- A clear, complete document — no blank sections that are meant to be filled in later
- If signing at a hospital or care facility, let us know the hospital name, room number, and best contact number
📄 Already have your own form? No problem at all — we notarize any properly completed California healthcare directive, whether you downloaded one from the state, received it from an attorney, or got it from your doctor or hospital. The free downloads below are just a convenience if you don't have one yet.
Download Your Forms Before the Appointment
Fill out your form at home so it's ready to sign when we arrive. All links go directly to official California government and medical association sources — free, no sign-up required.
Print and complete your form before the appointment — but do not sign until the notary is present. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Do NOT sign the document before the notary arrives
- Do NOT use a witness who is a healthcare provider, family member, potential heir, or anyone who could benefit from your estate
- Do NOT present an expired or damaged ID — the notary must be able to verify your identity
- Do NOT confuse a POLST with an advance directive — a POLST must be signed by a physician and cannot be notarized by a notary public
- Do NOT assume one document covers everything — many patients benefit from having both an advance directive AND a separate durable power of attorney for healthcare
Frequently Asked Questions
California law allows an advance directive to be executed before either a notary public OR two qualified witnesses. We recommend notarization because it is more universally accepted by hospitals and care facilities and eliminates witness eligibility complications.
Yes. Bedside notary visits are one of our most requested services. We travel to UC Davis Medical Center, Sutter Medical Center, Mercy General, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento, Mercy San Juan, Sutter Roseville, and skilled nursing facilities throughout the region.
Yes. California provides a statutory advance directive form that is free and legally valid. You can download it from the California Secretary of State or California Coalition for Compassionate Care. We can notarize any properly completed advance directive form.
No. Your healthcare agent does not need to be present for the notarization of your directive. Only the person granting the authority (you, the principal) needs to be present with valid ID.
The notary fee is $15 per notarized signature — the California state-regulated maximum. An Advance Healthcare Directive typically requires one notarized signature. Travel fees start at $50 for standard locations and $65 for hospitals or care facilities. Call or text (916) 222-2251 for an exact quote.
Get Your Healthcare Directive Notarized Today
Peace of mind for you and your family. We come to your home, hospital, or care facility throughout Sacramento and surrounding counties.