DOMICILE vs RESIDENCE
What is the difference between a domicile and a residence? A domicile is where you have your permanent home or principal establishment and to where, whenever you are absent, you intend to return; every person is compelled to have one and only one domicile at a time. Everyone must have a “domicile”. If you sell your home and live in your recreational vehicle or tiny home fulltime, the RV or tiny home is not your domicile, it is your residence. A legal residence is the place of abode, actual dwelling place, without regard to intent.
If you sold your home, the state where you lived in the home will be considered your domicile until you make the effort to choose another state as your domicile. Making the effort calls for intent. If you are a full time RV’er or want to be a full timer you have several decisions to make. Deciding which state will be your legal domicile is just one of the big questions.
If you intend to become a Texan you will do some things to indicate your intentions. You may register your vehicle(s), register to vote in Texas, lease an apartment or RV lot in Texas. You may want to establish a bank account in Texas. You will apply for a Texas driver’s license. In order to do these things you would need an address in Texas. A person would register vehicles and register to vote in the county they have determined to be their domicile county. The address that Texas Home Base assigns is in Wichita County, Texas. In order to register your vehicle(s), the vehicle must be inspected. The inspection costs less than $15.00 and there are many inspection stations in Wichita County.
Remember that you can’t have your domicile in more than one state. Choose the state that you want to be your “home” state and get all important documents in that state.
This is only information. Consult a lawyer for legal advice.