Contact Us

If you need assistance with managing your legal issues, please contact us to schedule your initial consultation.

"*" indicates required fields

Health Care Directive

Documenting Medical Decisions in Advance

A Health Care Directive is an essential tool in California estate planning that ensures your medical wishes are known and honored if you cannot speak for yourself. It allows you to appoint a trusted agent to make health care decisions on your behalf and gives you the opportunity to document your preferences for treatment, pain management, and end-of-life care. At Hoffman | Forde, we guide clients in creating directives that provide clarity and peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

Our Health Care Directive Services

We help individuals and families across California prepare clear and legally valid directives tailored to their values and circumstances. A directive not only prevents uncertainty during medical emergencies but also protects loved ones from the burden of making difficult choices without guidance.

Our services include:

Drafting and customizing Advance Health Care Directives in compliance with California law

Integrating HIPAA authorization to allow your agent access to essential medical information

Coordinating your directive with other estate planning tools, such as powers of attorney or trusts

We also take the time to understand your personal priorities, ensuring your directive reflects what matters most to you—whether that involves comfort measures, organ donation, or specific treatment preferences.

Why Clients Choose Our Estate Planning Attorneys

At Hoffman | Forde, we know that health care decisions are deeply personal. Our role is to listen carefully, explain your options clearly, and draft documents that protect your choices. With our guidance, you can feel confident that your wishes will be respected and your loved ones supported when it matters most.

The Team Behind the Results

Our attorneys are trusted with complex matters because they bring more than credentials: they bring results. Litigators, dealmakers, and planners who have spent their careers in Southern California courtrooms, escrow offices, and boardrooms, and who put all of it to work for you.

Schuyler V.V. Hoffman

Schuyler V.V. Hoffman

Shareholder


Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Business Consulting

Daniel R. Forde

Daniel R. Forde

Shareholder


Civil Litigation, Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate, Business Consulting, …See More

Angela Elpers Barnes

Angela Elpers Barnes

Managing Attorney


Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation

Jason Santana

Jason Santana

Of-Counsel


Business Consulting, Real Estate Litigation

Amanda Allen

Amanda Allen

Senior Associate


Business, Real Estate, Civil Litigation

Dalia Astalos

Dalia Astalos

Senior Associate


Landlord-Tenant Law, Commercial Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Trust & Estates Litigation, …See More

Professional headshot of Nicole Baldwin, Senior Counsel at Hoffman | Forde in San Diego, CA
Nicole Baldwin

Nicole Baldwin

Senior Counsel


Advice & Counsel, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Background Check & FCRA Litigation, Class Actions, …See More

Alison Barry

Alison Barry

Senior Counsel


Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation

Victoria Boynton

Victoria Boynton

Senior Counsel


Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Transactional and Litigation, Business Advisement

Jim Buche

Jim Buche

Of-Counsel


Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation

Michael Dicks

Michael Dicks

Senior Trial Attorney


Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Personal Injury

Jacqueline DiRubbo

Jacqueline DiRubbo

Senior Associate


Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate

Christina Elhaddad

Christina Elhaddad

Senior Associate


Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Immigration Law

Alanna Haefner

Alanna Haefner

Senior Associate


Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate , Commercial Real Estate, Tax Advisory

Mia Kelly

Mia Kelly

Senior Counsel


Real Estate Litigation, General Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Employment Law, …See More

Nicholas Kritikos

Nicholas Kritikos

Of-Counsel


Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Business Consulting, …See More

Professional headshot of Alyssa Kucera, Associate at Hoffman | Forde in San Diego, CA
Alyssa Kucera

Alyssa Kucera

Associate

Matt LeFevre

Matt LeFevre

Associate


Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Boundary Disputes, Business Consulting

Byron Ma

Byron Ma

Of-Counsel


Civil Litigation, Business Transactions, Intellectual Property Law

Ian McKinley

Ian McKinley

Senior Associate


Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation, Business Torts, Boundary Disputes, Shareholder & Member Derivative Litigation, …See More

Michael Palmer

Michael Palmer

Senior Associate


Civil Litigation, Commerical Real Estate, Corporate Formation

Bryan Rayo

Bryan Rayo

Associate


Real Estate Law, Commerical Real Estate, Landlord-Tenant Law

Adam Reifman

Adam Reifman

Senior Associate


Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Law — Entity Formation & Planning, Easement & Land Use, …See More

Professional headshot of Vincent Renda, Of-Counsel at Hoffman | Forde in San Diego, CA
Vincent Renda

Vincent Renda

Of Counsel


Bankruptcy Law, Real Estate Law, Business Consulting, Civil Litigation

Vincent Russo

Vincent Russo

Senior Counsel


Trust & Probate Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate Law

William H. Sauls

William H. Sauls

Of-Counsel


Estate Planning, Tax Advisory, Business Consulting

Stefan Seper

Stefan Seper

Associate


Civil Litigation, Landlord-Tenant Law , Commercial Real Estate, Habitability Issues, …See More

David Silldorf

David Silldorf

Of-Counsel


Criminal Defense

Michael Stuart

Michael Stuart

Of-Counsel


Criminal Defense, Restraining Orders, Civil Litigation, Administrative Law

Legal Support Team

Our dedicated paralegals are the behind-the-scenes experts who ensure our firm runs smoothly. They play a critical role in our client-focused approach, enabling our attorneys to deliver the highest quality service with precision and care.

Professional headshot of Mariam Alnajjar, Legal Assistant at Hoffman | Forde in San Diego, CA
Mariam Alnajjar

Mariam Alnajjar

Legal Assistant

Kathy Davalos

Kathy Davalos

Paralegal

Ragan Fowzer

Ragan Fowzer

Post-Bar Law Clerk

Liana M. Jackson

Liana M. Jackson

Paralegal

Lily Korpman

Lily Korpman

Senior Paralegal

Jacinda Maheras

Jacinda Maheras

Paralegal

Elena McKinley

Elena McKinley

Paralegal

Magdalena Valdez

Magdalena Valdez

Paralegal

Heidy Vera

Heidy Vera

Legal Assistant

What Our
Clients Say

I personally worked with Mr. Hoffman who provided me with prompt, detailed and sound legal advice. I was in a situation where the seller of my home cut corners and he helped me get out of paying an arm and a leg by using his expertise to demonstrate why the seller was responsible. Don’t look any further for your legal needs.

Patrick W.

Sky and Dan are great to deal with on matters of real estate and business. Cogent, concise, and pragmatic legal advice. I feel very well represented and have been treated fairly when it comes to their fee schedule. I am very selective when it comes to giving referrals and Hoffman & Forde have never dropped the ball when I have sent them one.

Patrick C.

Schuyler and his whole team of associates are the best! They have provided valuable and reliable information in helping me from my business entity. They are very trustworthy, and helped save me a lot of time and money.

Tim S.

Positive outcomes start with clear communication, practical solutions, and follow-through. That’s our philosophy—and what we deliver to every client who entrusts us with protecting what matters most.

Proudly Serving San Diego &
the North Coast

From Bankers Hill to La Jolla, Hoffman | Forde represents clients across Southern California with clear counsel, strategic insight, and results that hold up under pressure.

Bankers Hill

3033 Fifth Ave, Suite 400,
San Diego, CA 92103

View Map

La Jolla

1200 Prospect St #375,
La Jolla, CA 92037

View Map