About Advance Healthcare Directive Preparation
An advance healthcare directive can name an agent and record a person’s preferences concerning healthcare decisions. It may also include customer-selected instructions about treatment, end-of-life care and organ donation.
The office prepares the document from the customer’s directions but cannot recommend healthcare choices, determine capacity or provide medical or legal advice.
California availability: This page concerns self-help document preparation for California matters. Services, procedures and pricing vary by independently owned office.
Documents and information commonly requested
The exact package depends on the customer’s selected service, instructions and local requirements. Common items may include:
- Healthcare agent appointment
- Successor-agent designation
- Treatment instructions
- End-of-life preferences
- Organ donation choices
- Signature or witness pages
How document preparation works
Provide complete agent information and the exact healthcare instructions you want recorded. The office prepares the selected directive and provides clerical signing information.
You remain responsible for reviewing the completed documents, confirming that your information and directions were entered correctly, signing where required and meeting applicable deadlines. Ask the local office which clerical filing, recording, publication, notary or service options it offers.
Common questions
What does advance healthcare directive preparation include?
Preparation includes the agent designations, instructions and execution pages selected by the customer. Medical and legal advice are outside the service.
Is advance healthcare directive preparation available at every California By The People office?
No. Service availability, process, timing and pricing vary among independently owned California offices. Contact the office that would prepare your documents.
Can a By The People office tell me what choices to make?
No. The customer must select the service and provide the decisions and information used to prepare the documents. Offices do not provide legal advice or representation.
Are filing, recording, publication or service fees included?
Third-party charges are separate unless the local office specifically states otherwise in its written quote.