Becoming a Florida resident has numerous income and estate tax considerations and other implications including obtaining homestead status. This Alert is an introduction to the issues and steps you should consider to establish and maintain Florida as your legal domicile.

What is Florida Domicile?

You are "domiciled" in Florida if you live in Florida with the intent that it be your permanent home. Although being in Florida for any specified period of time is not required, your physical presence does help establish intent. If you are establishing Florida domicile, you should make sure you terminate your domicile in any other state or country. It is important to remember that establishing Florida as your place of domicile is usually easy to accomplish. The challenge is convincing the state in which you are terminating your domicile that you have actually done so. That is why careful planning is so important.