Hospital Bedside Notary
When the patient wants to document specific treatment wishes — resuscitation, ventilator, feeding tube, comfort care — without naming a healthcare agent, we notarize Part 2 of the California AHCD on its own. We also handle the §4675 nursing home ombudsman rule families almost always miss. Bedside service across Los Angeles and Ventura County.
Important: California law does not have a standalone "living will" — the statutory equivalent is AHCD Part 2 (Instructions for Health Care). This page is specifically for wishes-only signings where no healthcare agent is being named. If the patient wants to name an agent too see our full AHCD page; if they only want the agent without specific wishes see our Healthcare POA page.
What this page covers
In most U.S. states, a "living will" is a standalone document expressing your wishes about end-of-life medical treatment — resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, and comfort care. California does not have a separate statutory living will form. Instead, California Probate Code §4670 et seq. provides the Advance Healthcare Directive (AHCD), whose Part 2 (Instructions for Health Care) serves the same purpose. People choose the wishes-only path when they want their treatment preferences documented but either have no one to name as agent, prefer to leave decisions to the medical team, or already have a separate Healthcare POA on file. We notarize wishes-only AHCD Part 2 signings at hospital bedsides across Los Angeles and Ventura County — and explain the §4675 nursing home ombudsman rule that most form-services skip over.
If the patient lives in a nursing home
California Probate Code §4675 imposes a special witness requirement when the patient is a resident of a skilled nursing facility. If you go the two-witness route (instead of notarization), one of the witnesses must be a patient advocate or ombudsman designated by the state. This is the single most common reason DIY two-witness signings get challenged later — the family didn't realize the rule existed. Notarization sidesteps it entirely, which is why we recommend it for any SNF resident.
California's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program assigns trained, certified volunteers to monitor patient rights in skilled nursing facilities. To find one, contact the facility's social worker or call California's statewide ombudsman line — they will dispatch a certified ombudsman to the patient's room.
Most online forms and self-help packets simply list witness disqualifications (no agent, no staff, no heirs) without mentioning §4675. Families get two qualifying witnesses, the document gets signed, and then a year later someone challenges it because no ombudsman was present.
Notarization is an alternative method of execution — not a supplement to witnessing. When a California notary properly notarizes the AHCD, no witnesses are required at all, which means no ombudsman is required either. This is why we strongly recommend notarization for any SNF resident.
The §4675 rule applies to current SNF residents. If the patient is hospitalized but will be transferred to an SNF, executing the AHCD before transfer (while they are still a hospital patient, not an SNF resident) is the simpler path. We work this timing out with families and discharge planners.
What the document covers
Specify whether you want CPR, mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition and hydration, and other life-sustaining measures if you have a terminal condition or are permanently unconscious.
Document your wishes for pain management, comfort measures, and hospice care — ensuring providers prioritize quality of life and symptom management even if curative treatment is not pursued.
Express your wishes regarding organ, tissue, or body donation — and specify any limitations on what can be donated or used for research.
Add any other specific instructions you want your healthcare providers to follow that are not covered by the standard form sections — for example, preferences about where you want to die.
How it works
Call or text with the hospital name and patient room. Tell us whether you have a completed AHCD Part 2 (or full AHCD) or need one created on-site. Text a photo of any existing form so we can confirm the notarial act before traveling.
On arrival we verify the patient's identity with a current government-issued ID (or two credible identifying witnesses) and conduct a capacity assessment — confirming the patient is alert, understands the document, and is acting voluntarily.
We confirm all blanks are completed and the notarial certificate is correct. We do not advise on content — that is legal advice. If an attorney prepared the document we follow their instructions precisely.
The patient signs in front of us. We complete the California notarial certificate, apply our seal, and record the act in our official journal as required by California law.
We advise on distributing copies to the patient's physician, the hospital chart, and personal records. We can scan and email a copy on-site if needed.
Preparation
Living will FAQ
California does not have a statutory document called a living will. The equivalent is Part 2 of the Advance Healthcare Directive — Instructions for Health Care — which documents your wishes about specific treatments including resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, and palliative care. California will generally recognize a living will prepared in another state, but using the California AHCD form is recommended for California residents.
Part 2 of the California AHCD lets you document: whether you want life-sustaining treatment if you have a terminal condition or are permanently unconscious, your preferences for artificial nutrition and hydration, your wishes about pain management and comfort care, organ donation preferences, and any other specific instructions for your providers.
No. You can execute Part 1 (agent designation) alone, Part 2 (treatment instructions) alone, or both together. Most attorneys recommend the full AHCD so both your agent's authority and your treatment wishes are in one notarized document.
Generally yes — California Probate Code §4701 recognizes directives validly executed under the law of the state where signed. However, California hospitals and providers are most familiar with the California AHCD form. If the patient is a California resident in California care, using the California form is simpler and eliminates uncertainty.
A living will (AHCD Part 2 in California) is a legal document expressing your personal wishes — it guides your agent and providers but is not a physician order. A POLST is a physician order that directs immediate treatment decisions. They work together: the AHCD expresses your general wishes, the POLST translates them into actionable medical orders for emergency situations.
Yes — that is exactly what we do. We travel to patient rooms, ICUs, nursing homes, and hospice facilities throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County to notarize California AHCDs. The patient must be alert, able to communicate, and have a current government-issued ID (or we can use two credible identifying witnesses).
California Probate Code §4675 requires that if the patient is a resident of a skilled nursing facility and chooses the two-witness route, one of those witnesses must be a state-designated patient advocate or ombudsman. This is the rule most online form services don't mention. Notarization avoids it entirely — when we notarize the AHCD no witnesses are required, so no ombudsman is required either.
Please have the completed statutory Part 2 form ready before we arrive. The California AHCD statutory form (which contains the Part 2 treatment-wishes section) is available for free download from the California Medical Association, the California Attorney General's office, and the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California. Many hospital patient-relations or social work departments also keep blank copies on hand. We notarize the acknowledgment; we do not draft, fill in, or advise on what treatment preferences to record.
Client feedback
Related hospital notary services