Power of Attorney · California
California Minor Child Power of Attorney (2026)
California has no statutory parental power of attorney; the official tool is the Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit (Family Code §6550–6552). The caregiver signs it under penalty of perjury, with no notary. Since January 1, 2026 it has no fixed expiration: it stops being valid when the child no longer lives with the caregiver.
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California minor child power of attorney: key facts
- Official form
- Family Code §6552 (as amended by AB 495, effective January 1, 2026).
- Who signs
- The adult caregiver the child lives with — not the parent.
- Notary
- Not required; no court seal needed.
- What it covers
- Items 1–4: school enrollment and school-related medical care. Items 5–8 (relatives only): other medical and dental care.
- How long
- No fixed term; invalid once the child stops living with the caregiver.
- Spanish
- The Judicial Council publishes an official Spanish version.
Official source: California Family Code §6552 (leginfo) · California Courts — Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit · Last reviewed: October 2026
DoneDoc is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We recommend having your document reviewed by a licensed attorney in your state before signing.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the California caregiver affidavit give custody?
- No. It does not affect the parents’ rights and does not give legal custody.
- What do I receive?
- A ready-to-sign PDF and Word document (Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit (Family Code §6552)) filled with your answers, plus signing instructions for California.
- Can I get it in Spanish?
- Yes. You sign the English document and also receive a Spanish reference translation or summary and Spanish instructions.
- Is DoneDoc a law firm?
- No. DoneDoc provides self-help forms and does not give legal advice. We recommend having your document reviewed by a licensed attorney in your state before signing.
Other states
Other California documents: Medical Power of Attorney