Signing requirements by state
Every state publishes the form. What none of them publish is how it has to be signed to hold: how many witnesses, whether a notary can stand in for them, what the statute actually says, and what happens when the signer is in a hospital bed. These pages answer that, from the statute text, written by a notary who does the signings.
California
Notary fee cap: $15 per signature for an acknowledgment or a jurat (Government Code §8211). Remote notarization: Not available. Remote online notarization was authorised in principle in 2023 (SB 696), but nothing is operative until the Secretary of State's system is certified, by law no later than January 1, 2030. Every California notarization today happens in person.
Uniform Statutory Form Power of Attorney
Financial power of attorney
Two adult witnesses, or a notary's acknowledgment instead — either one satisfies the statute.
Verified against the statute 2026-09-19
Advance health care directive
Advance health care directive
Two adult witnesses, or a notary's acknowledgment instead. In a skilled nursing facility, a patient advocate or ombudsman must sign as a witness as well — whichever route is used.
Verified against the statute 2026-09-19
Child travel consent letter
Minor travel consent letter
None required by any California statute.
Verified against the statute 2026-09-19
Caregiver's authorization affidavit
Caregiver authorization affidavit
None.
Verified against the statute 2026-09-19
Will
Will
Two witnesses, present at the same time, who see the will being signed or hear the testator acknowledge the signature.
Verified against the statute 2026-09-19
General information about how documents are executed, not advice about your situation. A notary public is not an attorney. The full disclaimer.