State of recidence

louiskathy wrote:
We use a mail forwarding service in SD - My Home Address out of Emery, SD.

We timed our paperwork so we didn't have to buy two sets of license plates for everything. I don't know if it's 60 days or 90 days... but you buy the vehicle plates and then have so many days to physically get there to take your D/L test and turn in your old license. (Be very sure that you have nothing on your record - fines, EPA testing... that would make the SD D/L facility take your license away without issuing a new SD license to you. )

We had lived in Illinois 10 years and moved to a new home in Michigan in Dec 2001 so we did not get our vehicles tested in IL in Nov ... and then when we arrived at the SD D/L in 2005 realized that it's important to return that little postcard with the box checked that says "Moved out of State". SD wouldn't issue a SD D/L until it was cleared up. We actually had sold the vehicle that had the hold on it... took 3 days to prove that to IL so that SD would issue a new D/L.

The mail forwarding service you pick needs to be able to handle the renewal of your license plates. We've been on the road for over 10 years now... with the same mail forwarding service. They do more than forward mail.

We actually renewed our tags online and they shipped them to us while in Texas.

Also, we had to stay one night in SD.

I think you are asking about domicile, i.e. where you vote, intend to pay state and local income and property taxes, get medical insurance, settle your estate when you die. Residence is where you actually live, and that can change throughout the year, you can have multiple residences, as many snowbirds do. One of your residences might be at your domicile.

Ideally, you would be able to get a driver's license and register your vehicles at your domicile, but if your residence is different, and especially if you work, you may find that the state of your residence will want you do get a driver's license, vehicle registration, and pay taxes there.

My snowbird brother had stick and brick in both Michigan and Florida. He maintained Michigan domicile, though he lived there only 3-5 months. He voted there, filed his will there, established trusts with Michigan trustees, maintained Michigan driver's license. He registered and insured his Michigan cars in Michigan, his Florida cars in Florida. Because of the large snowbird community, Florida is pretty good about part time residents using out of state driver's licenses, but can be tougher on vehicle registration.

A tax accountant, he thought he had it all figured out, all his assets went into the Michigan trust. When he died, Florida said not so, and 21 months later, as his representative, I'm still trying to get the mess probated in two states.

I have other Michigan cousins who do the same thing, some with stick and brick Florida properties, others who RV (including one who will leave his RV, and maybe some motorcycles and boats, in Florida). The one who RVs also spends more time in Florida than in Michigan, but his domicile is his rural property in Michigan. It has been throughout a long career building highways everywhere in the U.S.

I have one friend with residences in Florida, Oklahoma, California and Costa Rica. This is for business purposes, there are some business registrations involved. I'm not even sure which one is her domicile, she carries an Oklahoma DL, pays taxes in each place according to what the state says is its share.

Everybody's case differs. It helps to pick the right states. It is not something you need to do in a hurry, as you can maintain your original domicile until you've established a new one. It can take a while to convince the state you are leaving that you are no longer domiciled there, even if you reside in other places. Most of the time, it matters less where you actually reside than where you choose to domicile. South Dakota, Texas and Florida can make it relatively easy to domicile without residing; that's why Escapees works from Texas.

Pennsylvania may not make it so easy to establish domicile as a part time resident, I don't know, I haven't tried. If you are planning to be on the road extensively, I suggest looking at one of the states that makes domicile easy, and not be concerned about the location of your summer campground.

wanderingbob wrote:
Check with the state you want . Remember that you can establish a " domicile " state in a state that you never live in or even visit ! Pick a state with favorable income and estate taxes as well as good auto tag fees and auto insurance .

If you're selling your present house you can domicile in any state. Just get a 'legal' address with a reputable mailing forwarding service. The Escapees RV Club in Texas has proven it's address you're given is a legal one in the court system. We used it for 16 years with no problems. Using that address you can get your vehicles registered, your driver's license, voter registration and you're good to go. When you're finished full-timing and have found the place where you want to live and have a house, just move to that state.

Keep in mind that now with all the new medical insurance issues if you're under Medicare age, explore the states carefully. Many states have now dropped their PPO plans where you can have medical care easily as you travel. You need to check carefully. If you're on Medicare you have no problem.

We use a mail forwarding service in SD - My Home Address out of Emery, SD.

We timed our paperwork so we didn't have to buy two sets of license plates for everything. I don't know if it's 60 days or 90 days... but you buy the vehicle plates and then have so many days to physically get there to take your D/L test and turn in your old license. (Be very sure that you have nothing on your record - fines, EPA testing... that would make the SD D/L facility take your license away without issuing a new SD license to you. )

We had lived in Illinois 10 years and moved to a new home in Michigan in Dec 2001 so we did not get our vehicles tested in IL in Nov ... and then when we arrived at the SD D/L in 2005 realized that it's important to return that little postcard with the box checked that says "Moved out of State". SD wouldn't issue a SD D/L until it was cleared up. We actually had sold the vehicle that had the hold on it... took 3 days to prove that to IL so that SD would issue a new D/L.

The mail forwarding service you pick needs to be able to handle the renewal of your license plates. We've been on the road for over 10 years now... with the same mail forwarding service. They do more than forward mail.

Escapees and Technomadia have an incredible amount of information on picking your domicile while full timing in an RV.

Do you have an idea where you will settle after you spend a while in the rv? If so, look first at domicile options in that state. If not, as mentioned FL, TX,and SD are common choices for full timers. We selected FL. By phone and by sending a form by snail mail, we established a private mailbox address in FL, then gave that new address to several businesses. The mail service aided us with info about stuff we needed (including business mail) to establish domicile there. Then when in FL, we took that Florida mail plus other needed documents to county office and DMV to get voter registration and vehicle registrations and DL. The first line of FL DL address is my RV licence plate number! Much of it can be done by mail for FL, but doing it in person went smoothly. Other states have other rules.

Check with the state you want . Remember that you can establish a " domicile " state in a state that you never live in or even visit ! Pick a state with favorable income and estate taxes as well as good auto tag fees and auto insurance .

Taxes in PA as I rembember are going to kill you too. Go full time, stop in FL or SD, spend a week, find one of the many mail forewording services, get a box, get drivers license,vehicle license, and insurance, and start traveling. When you decide where you want to land permantly, but your residence, and do your mail forewording stuff online. Done!