Question Changing Domicile/Residency to Florida. Who's done it?

[Neal]

I'm still very nervous about this, changing what I've known for 20 years now, my home, my address, my life. We've had discussions in other threads about my desire to go fulltiming and handling change after my mother's passing. My mother's condo closes this week, thankfully, for now I am not selling my house. It doesn't mean I can't change domicile, but it's a lot of change and that's daunting. I've gone over the St. Brendan's Isle page on what needs to be done, changing insurance concerns me and I sure don't want to flag to my home owners insurance that I may be in my house minimally for fear of getting dropped.

I'm heading south around the beginning of December and planned to stop through the SBI area to get this done. But I just have to figure out if it's the right thing to do and the right time to do it. Time is not waiting, the clock continues to tick away on this short journey called life. It's just very hard to break from the comfort zone.

I'm curious of those that have done this domicile change, any things to know from the process from notifying insurance, IRS, banks, doctors, on and on. I'm about to have my estate documents updated with my attorney in VA and I wonder if that's going to be a waste of time/money if I need to have it done in FL instead?

Any feedback, advice, info is much appreciated.

 

[Underboss]

Easy. But I moved here. Most documents are easy. Bring birth certificate, must have Florida insurance to register cars. Ask anything, will answer what i can

 

[Neal]

Can I get FL insurance without being a FL resident? Or I assume just use the SBI address with insurance and don't go into the residency part. Same applies...can I get FL insurance without having a FL driver's license? I guess I need to understand what I need to get insurance first and maybe a call to USAA is in order. I can't say "I'm moving there" as I still have my VA home insured with them.

 

[Underboss]

Can I get FL insurance without being a FL resident? Or I assume just use the SBI address with insurance and don't go into the residency part. Same applies...can I get FL insurance without having a FL driver's license? I guess I need to understand what I need to get insurance first and maybe a call to USAA is in order. I can't say "I'm moving there" as I still have my VA home insured with them.

If you are going to domicile you have to. "You cannot be half a gangster" Jimmy Darmody Boardwalk Empire

 

[Boat Bum]

It's been my understanding you'll have to declare a primary residence in these situations. I would assume that's where your license will be from.

 

[Holdmybeer]

Can I get FL insurance without being a FL resident? Or I assume just use the SBI address with insurance and don't go into the residency part. Same applies...can I get FL insurance without having a FL driver's license? I guess I need to understand what I need to get insurance first and maybe a call to USAA is in order. I can't say "I'm moving there" as I still have my VA home insured with them.

Yeah, they'll cancel you or raise your premium if you're not residing there. You can get insurance in Fla. w/o a Florida DL, but not online ( the portal will freeze up without a Florida DL#). If you declare Florida as your secondary residence you can get a DL, but you can't have two DL's. You'd have to surrender your VA. DL. You have to provide proof of residency to acquire a Fl. DL. ( Lease agreement, utility bills with the address and your name, etc.)

 

[Neemer]

I looked into this a few years ago when I was considering changing domicile to FL, but holding on to my VA real estate.

It turned out to be easier than I thought. I needed to spend 181 days outside of VA (and I needed proof of that). I also needed FL driver’s license and address.

Ultimately I nixed the idea.

 

[Underboss]

Yeah, they'll cancel you or raise your premium if you're not residing there. You can get insurance in Fla. w/o a Florida DL, but not online ( the portal will freeze up without a Florida DL#). If you declare Florida as your secondary residence you can get a DL, but you can't have two DL's. You'd have to surrender your VA. DL. You have to provide proof of residency to acquire a Fl. DL. ( Lease agreement, utility bills with the address and your name, etc.)

THIS


You need Florida insurance to register a car. You do not need it to get a license. There are a lot of pluses to Florida residency, no state income tax.
If you do transfer your vehicles to FL, any law enforcement officer, notary, etc can do a VIN verification for registration purposes. I have my friends son verify, as he was a NY cop. I had not brought all my vehicles to Florida yet. Went to DMV and was out with my license and registrations in 45 minutes.