Quick facts
- Category: Power of Attorney / Authorization
- Apostilled by the California Secretary of State (Sacramento or Los Angeles)
- Fee: $20 per document (mail) or $26 (walk-in) at the California Secretary of State
- Free document review before you pay any government fee
- Tracked outbound and return shipping included
What to know
Self-prepared — no issuing office. 1. Complete the AHCD (statutory form or equivalent): name your agent and alternates, your health-care instructions, organ-donation wishes, and primary physician. 2. Execute by acknowledgment before a California notary (choose the notary path, not two witnesses, for apostille). The principal personally appears with satisfactory ID and acknowledges the signature. 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. Who can create it. The principal, while they have capacity. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the acknowledgment (Gov. Code §8211(a)); usually same-day. The AHCD form itself is free. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s acknowledgment — current commission, legible seal/signature, commission number and expiration shown. The SOS verifies the notary, then.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as a health-care POA?
The health-care POA is Part 1 of the AHCD (#230); the full directive (#231) also includes your instructions, donation wishes, and physician.
Notary or two witnesses?
California allows either, but only the notary version can be apostilled.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Acknowledgment — it’s acknowledged, not sworn.
Can my doctor be my agent?
Generally no — the treating provider (or their employee) usually can’t serve, unless related to you.
Common destinations
Countries this document is most often sent to (pulled from this page's own guidance). Every destination has its own rulebook — apostille (Hague) or full legalization (non-Hague).