livelaughlovejs Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 How long before fulltiming should I start my escapee mail service? I'm not sure if we will use South Dakota or Texas as a domicile state. Janet 2014 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 31SA 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk RV Blog: http://seizethedayrvadventure.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 When we sold our house, we used a local PO box until we went to SD to sent up our residency (stay the night). We transferred our mail to Alternative Resources- Now known as Dakota Post in Sioux Falls. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 I would say three months. Notify your correspondents during that period. Then when you are ready to cut over, file the forwarding request with the Post Office. You wait on that because you want it to last as long as possible. Keep in mind that you can leave a forwarding order with the Post Office when going from a normal mail address to a box service, but you cannot use a forwarding order to move from a box service. So choose wisely. We've tried to cut our physical mail to the absolute bare minimum. 1994 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WB40 Full-timers since 2016, domiciled in Crestview, Florida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaH Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 I agree with Gannet -- a minimum of three months. That will give you some time to be sure everything is working OK and to make all the changes of address you need to make (credit cards, bank accounts, IRS, Social Security, etc.) In fact, start making a list now of everyone you need to inform of your new address...it'll come in really handy when the time comes that you must make the address changes. LindaH 2014 Winnebago Aspect 27K 2011 Kia Soul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selah Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Yep, about three months is what we did as well. By the time your ready to leave the S&B about the only thing that should be comming direct to the old address is advertisements. When you will no longer be at the house you will need to file a "Change of Address" with the post office, not a forwarding address. Be sure to change the address for your utility bills early. I don't know about Texas or SD but to claim FL as your domicile you will need a utility bill with the FL mailing address. Even though the bill was for Indianapolis Power And Light it had the FL mailing address and was accepted. Also, check the web site for the mail service you chose. They should have all of the information needed to claim that state as your official domicile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp51443 Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Three months is good for most stuff but things you forget like annual statements and such can trickle in for a long time so make sure your forwarding address stays active with the post office. First rule of computer consulting: Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day. Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 We were almost 4 months from starting our Escapee mail box/address until we actually began to travel, but doing so allowed us to see that our mail was working and everything was ready. It also allowed us to not file the usual change of address with the USPS so our junk mail didn't follow us. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhingst Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 We did not give a forwarding address to the Post Office. This stopped all the junk mail we were getting. We have been fulltime for 7 years and have not had any problems. We were very diligent about notifying everone about our new address and have had no issues. We use the Escapee mail service in Livingston and they have never made a mistake, the Post Office has but not Escapees. Rudy & Linda 2007 Hitchhiker Discover America 339RSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Close to 3 months with the Livingston address before we started to travel. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newt Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Change everything you can to paperless. It's convenient full timing to do all the business you can on the internet. If you don't have a multifunction machine, fax, scanner, copy etc, get one. They come in handy. Newt 2012 HitchHiker Discover America 345 LKSB 2009 Dodge/Cummins LIVINGSTON TX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medico Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Most states do require a certain amount of time to prove you are a resident. These requirements got harsher after 9-11. To Declare Domicile and break with your old state, one of the recommended steps is to obtain a driver's license in the new state and turn in your license in the old state. Most states require residence for a period of time to obtain a driver's license. Remember residency is different from domicile. A residence is where you presently are, a domicile is your official state where you vote and are licensed and registered. We set up our mailing service in Florida in Sept. last year and started the Declaration of Domicile in Florida in Jan. this year. We have also changed everything to paperless as Newt suggested. This includes all monthly billing, magazine subscriptions, bill paying, etc. GS Lifetime #822128658, FMCA #F431170 2012 Airstream Mercedes Interstate Extended Class B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Most states do require a certain amount of time to prove you are a resident. This is one of the reasons that TX, FL, & SD are so popular with RV folks. None of these states have any time requirement at all. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medico Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 In Florida, and I assume Tx. you need to show a physical address to obtain a driver's license. In our case we used the physical address of our mail forwarding service to go through all the domicile steps. A few months after we officially became Florida residents we bought a lot and changed our official address to the lot. We still maintain our mail service for when we travel. While we are in Florida we are allowed to suspend our mail service. GS Lifetime #822128658, FMCA #F431170 2012 Airstream Mercedes Interstate Extended Class B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin H Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 How long before fulltiming should I start my escapee mail service? I'm not sure if we will use South Dakota or Texas as a domicile state. Janet Most folks go with a mail service in the state of their domicile. I can't speak to the amount of time question but I am curious why you would use an escapee mail (TX) address if you "reside" in SD? Just asking... The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livelaughlovejs Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Kevin H are you referring to the two addresses that escapee mail users in South Dakota must use? One in South Dakota for driver license, insurance & all other state related stuff. Then the livingston ,TX address for all other mail? It's strange and I hope its not a problem with proving domicile state. It almost easier to use Texas as a domicile state. 2014 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 31SA 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk RV Blog: http://seizethedayrvadventure.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbaraok Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Unless you are purchasing a new rig and the sales tax will be a LOT, I think you will find it much easier just to become Texans. Barb Barb & Dave O'Keeffe 2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&J Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Change everything you can to paperless. It's convenient full timing to do all the business you can on the internet. If you don't have a multifunction machine, fax, scanner, copy etc, get one. They come in handy. Newt We started getting everything setup as auto pay or paperless 6 months ahead, that way you know it works before you head out. Also eliminate all your landlines at the same time so you can also workout any problems that may come up with them before you are on the road. We still maintain a home base but everything is setup year around and our home base is are mailing addresss. We only have our mail forwarded ever 2 to 3 months because we just don't need it anymore because after 8 years everything is paperless, we have gone as long as 8 months with no mail. It takes a while but it can be done. Be very careful when it comes to changing your address for your health insurance, it can be a problem if your not on medicare. Denny Denny & Jami SKP#90175 Most Timing with Mac our Scottie, RIP Jasper our Westie 2013 F350 SC DRW 6.2 V8 4.30 Gears 2003 HH Premier 35FKTG Home Base Nebraska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 One in South Dakota for driver license, insurance & all other state related stuff. Then the livingston ,TX address for all other mail? It's strange and I hope its not a problem with proving domicile state. It almost easier to use Texas as a domicile state. Escapees have vetted the method and I am sure know the legal ramifications of the process that they use. One thing to also consider if you are not yet of Medicare age is the large choice of medical plans in TX versus the very limited ones in SD. There are good reasons for TX being the most popular state and it has been recognized more than once by Good Sam as the most RV friendly state. Livingston, TX is probably the only community that everyone knows how fulltimers live and solicit our business. And I'd bet it is also the place where fulltimers have the most political clout. The fact is that while domicile does require an address, there is no requirement that the domicile address be your mail service address. For example, many people in all states register vehicles & driving licenses to a domicile address but use a PO box for their general mail. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livelaughlovejs Posted February 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 I thought escapee would be on top of the South Dakota address thing. I have respect for the escapee club and hope Kevin and I can become active members Thanks 2014 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 31SA 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk RV Blog: http://seizethedayrvadventure.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbaraok Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Why is it that you are going to SD? Barb Barb & Dave O'Keeffe 2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livelaughlovejs Posted February 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I thought it was cheaper but now I'm not so sure. cheaper- vehicle insurance & registration 2014 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 31SA 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk RV Blog: http://seizethedayrvadventure.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 If you mean SD is cheaper, the only thing that is significantly less there for most people is sale tax, but I'm not so sure that I would base my choice of home base solely on what is cheap. There are some pretty important issues that are determined by domicile in some situations and the health care choices for those not yet on Medicare are much better in TX. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp51443 Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 Check carefully, Texas prices if you use Livingston as an address are pretty good. First rule of computer consulting: Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day. Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaH Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I thought it was cheaper but now I'm not so sure. cheaper- vehicle insurance & registration When we were fulltimers, we were domiciled first in Texas and then in South Dakota. We changed domiciles before we bought a new RV because of the difference in sales tax. As far as vehicle insurance and registration, *we* found it pretty much a wash...there was really no appreciable difference in auto registration fees and not all that much difference in insurance rates, although our fulltimers insurance did go down a bit in SD vs TX (but certainly not enough to make that the determining factor). If we were going to become fulltimers today -- AND -- if we were under Medicare age, I would NOT choose SD because there really is no good choice for under-Medicare-age health insurance in the state for fulltimers. LindaH 2014 Winnebago Aspect 27K 2011 Kia Soul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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