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 / health-care POA. Name the health-care agent (and alternates), powers, and any instructions. The principal must execute it personally — a financial attorney-in-fact can’t create it for them. 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as an Advance Health Care Directive?
In California the health-care POA is part of the AHCD (#231). The notarized version is what gets apostilled.
Notary or two witnesses?
California allows either to execute the directive, but only the notary version can be apostilled.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Acknowledgment — it’s acknowledged, not sworn.
Can my doctor be my health-care 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).