Online Healthcare Directive Notary

What is a healthcare directive?

A healthcare directive is a document that records your wishes for medical care and names who can speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself. An advance directive often combines a living will, which states the treatment you do or do not want in serious situations, with a healthcare proxy or power of attorney for health care that names an agent to make decisions on your behalf.

This category also includes HIPAA authorization forms, which let named people access your medical information. These documents are personal and important, and many people choose to have them notarized so that providers and family members can rely on them with confidence.

Can it be notarized online?

Commonly, yes. Advance directives, living wills, and HIPAA authorization forms are often notarized, and New Jersey allows this over live video. You appear on camera, present your ID, and sign while a commissioned notary completes the certificate.

Please note an important limit. Actual last wills, codicils, and testamentary documents cannot be notarized online in New Jersey. A healthcare directive is not the same as a will. If you need help with a last will or any testamentary document, contact us and we will explain your options.

Acceptance still depends on the receiving party, and some directive forms call for witnesses instead of, or along with, a notary. Read your form and confirm requirements with your healthcare provider before your session.

What you'll need

• Your unsigned directive or authorization as a PDF. Do not sign it in advance.
• A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID.
• A device with a working camera and microphone.
• A stable internet connection and a quiet, well-lit space.
• Any witnesses your form requires, ready to appear during the session.

How BKS Notary helps

You meet a commissioned New Jersey notary in a live video session. The notary confirms your identity, watches you sign, administers any oath the form requires, and completes the notarial certificate on the record.

You receive a tamper-evident, sealed PDF that a hospital, provider, or family member can verify as authentic and unaltered. The audio-video recording and notarial record are retained in line with New Jersey's requirements.

What the notary does not do

The notary verifies identity, witnesses your signature, and completes the certificate. The notary does not give legal or medical advice, does not draft your directive, and does not choose which form or care options are right for you.

The notary cannot guarantee that a provider will accept the finished document, and cannot notarize a last will or other testamentary document online. For guidance on your directive, speak with your healthcare provider or an attorney.

Common issues

• It is actually a will. A last will or codicil cannot be notarized online in New Jersey. Contact us about those.
• Witnesses required. Many directive forms require witnesses. Read your form and line them up in advance.
• Already signed. The notary must watch you sign. Bring a clean, unsigned copy.
• Name mismatch. The name on your ID should match the name on the document. Contact us first if it does not.

Frequently asked questions