Establishing Florida Residency

A Checklist for Establishing Florida Residence

† File a Declaration of Domicile in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Indian River County, Florida.

† Obtain a Florida driver's license and plates for your automobile.

† Request the Supervisor of Registration in the State of your former residence to strike your name from the voting records of that State. After you become a legal resident of Florida, contact the County Supervisor of Elections in reference to residency requirements.

† File future Federal Income Tax Returns in Florida

No payment due:

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Austin, TX 73301-0002

Payment due:

Internal Revenue Service

P.O. Box 1214

Charlotte, NC 28201-1214

† File for the homestead property tax exemption for your residence. You may file for the homestead property tax exemption during the months of January and February at the County Courthouse. You will need to bring a copy of your deed, a Florida driver's license, a Florida automobile registration, your voter's registration and/or a filed Declaration of Domicile and your social security number. If you do not drive, you must have a Highway Patrol identification card issued at the driver's license office. If the property is listed jointly, both parties must furnish the above proof.

† Change your Will so as to recite that you are a resident of Florida.

† Notify taxing officials of your change of residence.

† Spend as much time in Florida as is practicable. Preferably, spend more time than six months per year in Florida.

† Notify the corporations in which you hold stocks of your change of residence, and have such securities registered in your name at your Florida address.

† Transfer financial (e.g., securities, bank) accounts from State of former residence to Florida. Open a safe deposit box in Florida to hold all your valuables. Change your mailing address to Florida for any out-of-state accounts you maintain.

† In all future contracts and other documents in which your residence is referred to, recite that you are a resident of the State of Florida.

† Own or lease and occupy a dwelling in Florida.

† Withdraw membership in any club outside of Florida where residence in such State is a prerequisite to holding such membership. Change out-of-state club memberships to "non-resident" membership, when possible.

† Transfer your religious affiliations to Florida.

† Declare Florida to be your state of residence in all oral and written communications concerning your residence or domicile.

† Register at hotels as a resident of Florida.

† Transact business in Florida.