Signing checklist for California

The signing steps in California law, step by step. Pick your documents to see them.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

This checklist lists the signing rules in California law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

Financial power of attorney: Notarized or signed by two adult witnesses
Health care directive: Notarized or signed by two adult witnesses

Financial power of attorney: California

Choose your form Uniform Statutory Form Power of Attorney. You do not have to use it. You do not have to use this form; any power of attorney that meets the signing rules is valid. If you use the statutory form, your signature must be acknowledged before a notary public. The form does not cover medical or health care decisions. Official text
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4401, 4402, 4408
Sign it Signed by you, or in your name by another adult in your presence and at your direction. It must show the date you signed it.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4121, 4122, 4128, 4402(c)
Notary or witnesses A power of attorney must be dated and signed. It must be either acknowledged before a notary public or signed by two adult witnesses. The statutory form must be notarized.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4121, 4122, 4128, 4402(c)
Who cannot witness Witnesses must be adults. Your agent (attorney-in-fact) cannot be a witness. Each witness must see you sign, or see you acknowledge your signature or the document.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4121, 4122, 4128, 4402(c)
The agent signs too Printed durable power of attorney forms sold or handed out in California for use without a lawyer must include a notice for the agent to sign, saying they understand their legal duties. This rule does not apply to the statutory form.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4121, 4122, 4128, 4402(c)
If you sign electronically The Power of Attorney Law has no special rule for electronic financial powers of attorney. California's Online Notarization Act lets a notary notarize an electronic record online only after registering with the Secretary of State and after the Secretary of State completes its online notarization system, which the law requires by January 1, 2030.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4121, 4122, 4128, 4402(c)
If it may be used for real estate The required notice in printed durable power of attorney forms says a power of attorney that may affect real property should be acknowledged before a notary public so it can easily be recorded.

Health care directive: California

Choose your form Advance Health Care Directive. You do not have to use it. Official text
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4700, 4701
Sign it Signed by you, or in your name by another adult in your presence and at your direction, and dated.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4673, 4674, 4675
Notary or witnesses Sign and date the directive. Then either have it notarized or have two qualified adult witnesses sign it. In a skilled nursing facility, an ombudsman or patient advocate must also witness it.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4673, 4674, 4675
Who cannot witness Witnesses must be adults who see you sign or acknowledge the directive, and must sign a declaration. These people cannot be witnesses: your health care provider or their employee, the operator or an employee of a community care facility or residential care facility for the elderly, and your health care agent. At least one witness must not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption and must not inherit from you.
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4673, 4674, 4675
If you sign electronically An electronic advance health care directive must be acknowledged before a notary public, and a digital signature must meet the rules in Probate Code 4673(b).
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4673, 4674, 4675
If you live in a nursing facility If you live in a skilled nursing facility when you sign, a patient advocate or ombudsman must also sign as a witness (as one of the two witnesses or in addition to a notary).
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4673, 4674, 4675

After signing

Registry (optional) Advance Health Care Directive Registry (California Secretary of State). Fee: $10 to register a directive, including a new or amended directive. No fee to change the information on your registration or to revoke the registration. Registration is by mail only, on the Registration of Written Advance Health Care Directive form. Official text
Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4800-4805
Give copies to the right people Keep the signed documents in a safe place and give copies to your health care proxy and your doctors. Some states have registries that store an advance directive for doctors and your proxy.

Signing checklist

This checklist lists the signing rules in California law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

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