Setting Up Domicile in Florida (one at a time)

[TLStafford]

My wife and I are contemplating the steps needed to set up domicile in Florida and hitting the road for a year. I’d like to come out to Florida with the travel trailer to set up domicile for myself first and then have her come out a few months later to set things up for herself. I won’t go into the why of all that but does anyone see a problem doing it separately? I think, legally, there is no married residency status; only individual.

[sandsys]

I don't know the answer to this but I do wonder whose names are on the titles of vehicles you want to register?

Linda Sand

[lappir]

If it's anything like transferring vehicles when you move there, it's a PITA. I was a travel nurse in the 1980's and decided to stay for a bit. It took me weeks to get all the paper work and transfer two wheeled vehicles from a Midwest licensing state to the State of Florida.  At that time there was also an excise tax or something and inspections. Not sure if it's the same now, I left Florida and would never live there again. JMHO. 

Rod

[Kirk W]

Are you sure that you understand what domicile involves? If you have not done so, I suggest that you take time to read The Issue of Doimicilewritten by a practicing attorney. The problem that I see in what you are suggesting is in things like vehicles that are titled in both names and the insurance on them, taxes paid at both state and federal levels which have been filed jointly, and a host of other things. In order for you to have separate domiciles you will pretty much need to divide things in the same way that you would if divorceing. 

[agesilaus]

It is only individual so unless there is a problem with vehicle titles, I don't see an issue. You could call the county tax assessor office in the county you plan to use and ask them. Are you planning to use a mail service for the address?

Maybe getting a written power of attorney from your wife would take care of the title issue if there is one. May depend on whether the title is "and" or "or". As in Jane or Joe Smith vs Jane and Joe Smith

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by agesilaus

[2gypsies]

10 hours ago, lappir said:

If it's anything like transferring vehicles when you move there, it's a PITA. I was a travel nurse in the 1980's and decided to stay for a bit. It took me weeks to get all the paper work and transfer two wheeled vehicles from a Midwest licensing state to the State of Florida.  At that time there was also an excise tax or something and inspections. Not sure if it's the same now, I left Florida and would never live there again. JMHO. 

Rod

Things have probably changed since the 1980's.  If going through Escapees to set up domicile it can be done in a very short time... a couple days at the most.

[Twotoes]

I was friends with married couple from Calif. The wife did not work. When the husband retired they bought a new Class A and a new tow vehicle and went full time. He established SD domicile and registered both in SD. They use FL as their winter home and she established a FL domicile and registured her car in FL.  Neither SD or FL have income tax so they only file a federal return. 

[mrschwarz]

I 'moved' to Florida a few years ago. Escapees has a page with a listing of all the requirements to establish residence and domicile. We followed the list of required items and brought everything into the county office. About an hour later, we walked out with new licenses, titles, registrations and plate. A short drive to another county office registered our statements of domicile.

Every time the county lady asked for a document, we had it. She commented that most people forget one thing or another, but we had everything. Find the page with the requirements and do everything it says. It's quick and it works.

[Second Chance]

In addition to reading the article in the link Kirk provided, you can read the Escapees Florida domicile guide here:

Escapees - Florida

Rob