California Health, Legal, And End-Of-Life Resources

Whether you’re planning for yourself or someone else, the resources below are vital when it comes to organizing and settling an estate in California.

Advance Directive Form

Download the Advance Directive form for California. For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state Advance Directive forms.

Order Death Certificates

Death Certificate instructions for California. For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state Death Certificate ordering information.

Digital Estate Planning Laws

Law: AB-691 Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act
Description: This law authorizes a decedent’s personal representative or trustee to access and manage digital assets and electronic communications.
Status: This was approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on September 24, 2016.

For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state Digital Estate Planning Laws.

Death With Dignity Legislation (a.k.a. Aid-In-Dying or Physician-Assisted Death)

• Assembly Bill ABx2 15 titled "End of Life Option Act" was signed into law on October 5, 2015. The Bill authorizes "an adult who meets certain qualifications, and who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, as defined, to make a request for a drug prescribed pursuant to these provisions for the purpose of ending his or her life." [Text of full Bill]

For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state Death With Dignity Legislation.

Organ Donation Registries

California Organ Donation registry official link. For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state Organ Donation registries.

POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Form

Download the POLST form for California residents. For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state POLST forms.

Probate Laws

• California Probate Code

For other states, see our complete list of state-by-state Probate Laws.

Estate And Inheritance Tax Rate

• California has no estate tax or inheritance tax

For estate and inheritance tax in other states see our complete list of state-by-state Estate And Inheritance Tax Rates.