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Living will and advance directive

A living will tells doctors and family what treatment you want if you can no longer speak for yourself, usually when you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It is a statement of your wishes, not a transfer of authority. The person who makes decisions is named in a medical power of attorney or health care proxy.

Many states use the phrase advance directive for a document that combines both. This builder writes the living will portion, with clear choices about life-sustaining treatment, artificial nutrition and pain relief, plus a section for your own words. It also prints the state's witness and notary rules with a citation.

Written by Nora Whitfield, editorial lead. State rules checked by Samuel Okafor, rules editor, on October 20, 2026.

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Filled sample, California

Living will (advance directive)

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

I, Frances E. Okafor, of 712 Sequoia Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814, make this living will and advance directive on my own behalf. I am an adult of sound mind, and I am making this document willingly. This document is governed by the laws of the State of California. If I cannot make health care decisions for myself, I want the instructions below to guide my care.

1. Terminal condition

If I have a terminal condition and my attending physician and a second physician agree that there is no reasonable chance of recovery, my instruction is: I want comfort care only. I do not want my life prolonged by treatment that offers no reasonable hope of recovery, except treatment that keeps me comfortable.

2. Permanent unconsciousness

If I am permanently unconscious and two physicians agree that there is no reasonable chance that I will regain consciousness, my instruction is: I do not want life-sustaining treatment. Treatment that offers no reasonable hope of recovery should not be started, and treatment already started should be stopped, except treatment that keeps me comfortable.

3. Artificial nutrition and hydration

My instruction about feeding tubes and intravenous nutrition is: I do not want a feeding tube. I understand that this choice may be the most difficult one in this document, and I want my agent and my care team to follow it as written.

4. Pain relief and comfort

My instruction about pain relief is: comfort is the priority. I want my care team to treat pain, shortness of breath and other distressing symptoms even when the medicine needed to do so may shorten my life. Comfort care, hygiene, positioning and human contact should continue at all times.

5. Organ and tissue donation

My choice about organ and tissue donation is: yes. If the choice is to donate, I authorize the procedures needed to evaluate and recover organs and tissue, and I authorize my agent to coordinate with the organ procurement organization.

6. My own words

What a tolerable life means to me: I want to recognize my family and to be able to speak with them. I do not want to live in a nursing home if I cannot leave my bed. I want to be cared for at home if that is possible..

Religious or cultural wishes: Please call my pastor, the Reverend Elena Marsh, if I am hospitalized for more than a few days..

7. My agent

If I have signed a medical power of attorney or health care proxy, I want the person named there to make decisions that this document does not cover, and to interpret my wishes in light of what I have written here. If no agent is available, I want my physicians to follow this document and to consult the person named above for notification.

8. Revocation

I may revoke this document at any time by signing a written revocation, by destroying the document with the intent to revoke, or by signing a new document that conflicts with this one. A revocation should be given to my physician, my agent and anyone who has a copy. This document does not revoke a medical power of attorney unless I say so in writing.

9. Copies and effect

A copy of this signed document has the same effect as the original. A health care provider may rely on it in good faith. If any part is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. This document is intended to be honored in California and in any state where I receive care, to the extent that state's law allows.

California note: this living will is intended to be used with an advance health care directive under California Probate Code 4700. The statutory form may be used instead, and a hospital may ask for it. Either two qualified witnesses or a notary acknowledgment is required under Probate Code 4673.

Declarant

Signature

Printed name: Frances E. Okafor

Date

Witness 1 signature

Witness 1 printed name

Witness 2 signature

Witness 2 printed name

Signing requirements: California: The document may be notarized or witnessed, as the state allows. 2 witnesses are required. Two qualified witnesses or a notary acknowledgment.

Source: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4700 to 4743.

Example answers, not advice. The builder replaces them with yours.

Full sample below

Use this form when

Putting your end-of-life wishes in writing before a hospital stay or surgery.
Making sure your family knows what you want if you cannot speak.
Recording a choice to refuse or limit life-sustaining treatment.
Accompanying a medical power of attorney so the agent has clear instructions.
Replacing an old living will after a move or a change in your wishes.

Have this ready

Your full legal name and address.
A clear sense of what you want for life-sustaining treatment, feeding tubes and pain relief.
The name and phone number of the person you want notified, even if that person is not your agent.
Two adult witnesses who meet your state's rules, or a notary if your state accepts one instead.
Your state, because witness restrictions and official forms differ.

Build the living will (advance directive)

The preview updates as you type. Your work is saved automatically.

State where the document will be used

This changes the signing block and the rule citations.

Step 1 of 3

About you

Use your full legal name. The address helps a hospital match the document to your record.

Your full name

Your address

Person to notify

The person a hospital should call. It can be your agent or someone else.

Phone numberOptional

Signing in California

Notary or witnesses2 witnessesRules cited

California: The document may be notarized or witnessed, as the state allows. 2 witnesses are required. Two qualified witnesses or a notary acknowledgment.

Source: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4700 to 4743 (opens the official source in a new tab). Read the California guide

Living will (advance directive)

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

1. Terminal condition

2. Permanent unconsciousness

3. Artificial nutrition and hydration

4. Pain relief and comfort

5. Organ and tissue donation

6. My own words

Religious or cultural wishes: Please call my pastor, the Reverend Elena Marsh, if I am hospitalized for more than a few days..

7. My agent

8. Revocation

9. Copies and effect

Declarant

Signature

Printed name: Frances E. Okafor

Date

Witness 1 signature

Witness 1 printed name

Witness 2 signature

Witness 2 printed name

Signing requirements: California: The document may be notarized or witnessed, as the state allows. 2 witnesses are required. Two qualified witnesses or a notary acknowledgment.

Source: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4700 to 4743.

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What the form includes

Your declaration

A plain statement that you are making this document willingly and while you have capacity.

Treatment choices

Life-sustaining treatment, CPR, artificial nutrition and hydration, and pain relief.

Quality of life

A place to say what a tolerable life means to you, in your own words.

Organ donation

A choice to donate, decline, or leave the decision to your agent.

Revocation

How to cancel the document and what happens to copies already given out.

Signing block

Witness lines or a notary block, depending on what the state requires, with the citation.

After you sign

Give it to the people who will be asked

Give a copy to your agent, your doctor and the hospital you use. Put a copy with your advance directive file at home and tell a family member where it is. A document in a locked drawer nobody knows about cannot guide care.

Keep it with the medical power of attorney

The living will states your wishes, and the medical power of attorney names the person who applies them. Keep the two signed documents together and make sure your agent has both.

Review it after a diagnosis

A serious diagnosis is the moment to reread the choices. If your wishes change, sign a new document and revoke the old one. Do not rely on a margin note or a conversation with one family member.

Know what your state calls it

Some states call this a living will, some an advance directive, and some a directive to physicians. The name on the form matters less than the signature, witness and notary rules, which this builder prints for your state.

Signing rules for this form

The builder shows the rule for every state and adds the right signature block. These state guides go deeper on the four biggest searches.

CANotary or witnesses2 witnessesRules cited

California: The document may be notarized or witnessed, as the state allows. 2 witnesses are required. Two qualified witnesses or a notary acknowledgment.

Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4700 to 4743 (opens the official source in a new tab)

California living will and advance directive

Rules reviewed October 20, 2026. Every rule names its statute or state form, and the citation links to the official text where the state publishes it online.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a living will and an advance directive?

A living will records your treatment wishes. An advance directive is the umbrella term, and in many states it combines a living will with a health care proxy. If your state uses one combined form, use the living will section here with the medical power of attorney.

Does a living will need to be notarized?

Most states require two witnesses and do not require a notary. A few accept a notary instead of witnesses. The builder shows your state's rule and adds the right signature block. Never use a witness who is your agent, your heir or your doctor if the state prohibits it.

Can I change my living will?

Yes, while you have capacity. Sign a new document with the same formalities and revoke the old one in writing. Tell your agent, your doctor and anyone who has a copy. A new document usually replaces an older one, but a clear revocation avoids confusion.

Does a living will cover pain relief?

You can and should say what you want about pain relief. Many people worry that pain medicine will shorten life. The document can state that comfort is the priority even if treatment has that risk, and your agent can reinforce it.

Is a living will valid in another state?

States generally honor a document signed in another state, but the witness rules can differ and a hospital may ask for its own form. If you move, make a new document in the new state and keep the old one with it until the new one is signed.

Before you use this document

PaperDeed is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide self-help templates and general information about signing rules. If you are unsure whether a document fits your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

Every signing rule above names its statute or state form, and links to the official text where the state publishes it online. Rules updated October 20, 2026.

PaperDeed is a self-help service. Templates and state rules were reviewed on October 20, 2026. 5 background guides are available if you want the explanation behind the form.