In Florida, the courts have ruled that your
legal residence is determined by your intention. Therefore, if you come to Florida with the intention of making this state your primary residence then you are a Florida resident and are entitled to the advantages and privileges that go along with it. Sounds easy doesn't it?
However, in many cases it is difficult to determine exactly what a person's intentions are. That's why it's important to provide clear evidence of your intention to become a Florida resident. In this chapter you will learn the procedure necessary to prove your intention to establish residency and the small details that will be helpful to convince your former state of residence that you no longer reside there.
Once you make the decision to become a Florida resident, you should make sure that everything about you shows that you are a Floridian. For example: a Florida resident is not registered to vote in Massachusetts; a Florida resident does not carry a Michigan drivers license; a Florida resident does not own or drive around in a car registered in Ohio; and a Florida resident does not root for the Yankees. O.K., maybe you can get by with that last one. Adherence to the following procedures will provide solid evidence of your intent to be a resident of Florida.
Declaration of Domicile. Upon making Florida your permanent residence, you should execute and file with the clerk of circuit court in the county where you reside, a Declaration of Domicile. This document is a sworn statement stating that you reside in and maintain a place of abode in the Florida county of your residence and that you intend to maintain such residence as your permanent home. If you also have a residence or residences in other states, you may disclose them and declare that the Florida residence constitutes your predominant and principal home.
Obtain a Florida Driver's License. Florida law requires that you obtain a Florida driver's license within 30 days
after becoming a resident of Florida if you operate a motor vehicle on the highways of this state. To obtain a Florida driver's license, you must present evidence of your identification, proof of your date of birth and your social security number.
Depending on which state you are from, you may be able to use your former state's driver's license as a primary identification document. If you have an out-of-state license and it has not expired beyond 30 days, you may be able to convert it to a Florida license without taking a written or road test.
Vehicle Title and Registration. You must apply for a Florida certificate of title for any vehicle you own and operate in the state of Florida. Your vehicle must be registered within ten days of establishing residency. To register your vehicle you must submit the original title and proof of Florida
[FONT=inherit ! important] [FONT=inherit ! important]insurance[/FONT][/FONT] to the county tax collector. If you are registering the vehicle in Florida for the first time, Florida law requires payment of a $100 initial registration fee in addition to the basic registration fees. You are required to register your car every year. The registration period begins the first day of the owner's
[FONT=inherit ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]birth [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=inherit ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]month[/FONT][/FONT] and ends on the owner's birthday.
