If you are moving to a state for college, the first thing you must do is research what is needed to become a resident of that state. This is important for students who plan to use their new residence for tuition purposes. While many states have different processes and colleges too, we will be focusing on one state in particular, and that is Florida.
This article will go through the several steps necessary to become a legal resident of the state of Florida.
Florida’s “declaration of domicile” is a document that proves you are a Florida resident. It states that you reside and have a permanent place of residence in the state. Some may still have times in another state or states, but they still require you to have this declaration regardless.
You have to sign it, and take it to a notary public or a deputy clerk of Florida court. From there the declaration is recorded in public records in whichever county you reside.
You don’t have to have this document to establish your residency, but it is required to make it public you are a permanent resident.
It is important to have a valid Florida driver’s license if you drive. The fact is the state may suspect that you haven’t moved entirely if you keep your previous state driver’s license. You are given 30 days to obtain one after filing your domicile.
If you don’t drive then you must consider getting a non-driver ID car instead.
It is a must to register all of your motorized vehicles upon moving to Florida. You do so at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). Also, be sore to ensure all of your vehicles because you will need proof of this for the DMV.
To ensure the state that you have moved completely from your previous place of residence in a higher state, you should strongly consider transferring at least one of your out-of-state bank accounts to a local bank near you or in the vicinity.
This concludes the basics on how to establish general residency in the state of Florida, but there are a few more steps for college students that have made the move.
Some Documents upon qualifying for in-state tuition purposes
( declaration of domicile, etc.)
Must have established and have been a legal resident “physically” of Florida for at least 12 months before the first day of school.
If you follow these general steps then should be on track when thinking about your move to Florida for college.
