Maintaining Florida residency while cruising

[boatpoker]

You say you have a business address. You can use that as you address and mailing address, no ?

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

You say you have a business address. You can use that as you address and mailing address, no ?

Indeed, what with the shift to remote work due to Covid, one has to wonder if one is working from home or living at work.

[SoloFL]

Originally Posted by ohdrinkboy

Any friends in FL where you can say you are staying with them. Maybe pay them a few bucks to have mail sent to them, and they will hold?

I have some friends/family in FL but don't know where I'll be for mail forwarding and don't want to bother them with it. So I'll probably use a mail forwarding service with physical address that optionally scans the mail and sends images to my email. Even checks work. Of course need to find a trustworthy one.

[PaulCrawhorn]

St Brendan's Isle and Escapees are the two main commercial services used by full-timing nomads to both maintain Florida legal domicile and perhaps also for mail forwarding services.

Ask them how to proceed and you'll be fine from an in-real-life, practical point of view, they retain lawyers to protect members' interests.

But I was NOT talking about tax issues, just establishing a residence address in general, license registration, voting, insurance and other FIs, etc

Of course IF you have high income or lots of assets, especially if you are coming from a higher-tax domicile state, then you need to pay appropriate advisers yourself for handling your particular scenario wrt taxes.

[PaulCrawhorn]

Originally Posted by SoloFL

I have some friends/family in FL but don't know where I'll be for mail forwarding and don't want to bother them with it. So I'll probably use a mail forwarding service with physical address that optionally scans the mail and sends images to my email. Even checks work. Of course need to find a trustworthy one.

There are two completely different issues here that should not be getting conflated!

Mail forwarding is not a challenge. Your mailing address can usually be anywhere, nothing to do with your legal residential - domicile - address.

That latter, for many agencies and FIs CANNOT be the address provided by a mail forwarding business. They employ database broker / blacklisting services specifically to weed out customers trying to do that.

Your F&F "leasing" you a bedroom for $1/mo is THE best solution.

They should not be getting much if any mail for you, since your mailing address is elsewhere to the mail forwarding service.

Using Escapees or SBI for that domicile purpose is currently workable, but not as good as the F&F option.

[PaulCrawhorn]

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/i...threads/235574

https://www.reddit.com/r/FullTiming/...lish_residency

[SoloFL]

^Excellent info. Thank you for posting.

[Montanan]

An in-state mail service does not establish residency.

Reference SBI, you will read that their service benefits are limited.

https://www.sbimailservice.com/becom...rida-resident/

[SoloFL]

Thanks. So just to be clear I'm already established as a FL resident, living with a relative for the last year - car plates, drivers license, tax filings all FL recently.

The plan is to maintain FL residency and not own/lease for a couple years while being abroad off/on.. or as mentioned in another post, consider the $1 lease service.

I do still own a condo in Midwest and plan to keep it, my sister living in it. But do not plan to own/lease any property in FL while maintaining FL residency. I may end up buying a small condo somewhere along the FL Brightline train line but looking for options to avoid owning or a significant lease for a couple years while traveling.

Thanks everyone for the tips and info. Getting a better understanding of options before confirming best approach with lawyer.

[Montanan]

FYI, in order to obtain a Florida Drivers License.

https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licens...g/u-s-citizen/


U.S. citizens renewing, replacing or applying for a new driver license or ID card in person must submit the following documents before a REAL-ID compliant driver license or ID card can be issued. Please note that the name assigned to the Social Security Number (SSN) must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or ID card. Customers who have recently changed their name should update their records with the Social Security Administration before applying for a driver license or ID card.

1. Primary Identification

An original of one of the following documents with complete name:

U.S. birth certificate, including some U.S. territories and District of Columbia (birth certificates from Puerto Rico must have an issue date after July 1, 2010);
Valid U.S. passport or passport card;
Consular Report of Birth Abroad;
Certificate of Naturalization, form N-550 or form N-570; or
Certificate of Citizenship, form N-560 or form N-561.
NOTES

Only a birth certificate issued by a county health department or the CDC Bureau of Vital Statistics will be accepted. Hospital birth certificates are not considered a certified document and will not be accepted.
Please come prepared to present one of the above listed identification documents as proof of citizenship or legal presence.
When applicable, marriage certificates, court orders or divorce decrees must be provided to link the name on the primary identification to the name on the driver license or ID card.
If a valid U.S. passport has the customer’s current name, they are not required to present additional name change documents.

2. Proof of Social Security

An original of one of the following documents with complete name and complete SSN:

Social Security card (with the customer’s current name);
W-2 form (not handwritten);
Pay check/stub;
SSA-1099; or
Any 1099 (not handwritten).
Customers without an SSN can find assistance on our What To Bring FAQ page.

3. Proof of Residential Address

Customers may not use their current driver license or ID card as proof of residential address.

Customers must submit TWO different documents with their Florida residential address (printouts or faxes of these documents are acceptable). We will no longer accept out-of-state or U.S. territory addresses for applicants obtaining a Florida Class E license or identification card.

Residential address documents include, but are not limited to:

Deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet or residential rental/lease agreement;
Florida voter registration card;
Florida vehicle registration or title (print a duplicate registration at MyDMV Portal);
Utility bill;
A utility hook up or work order dated within 60 days prior to the application;
Automobile payment booklet;
Selective service card;
Medical or health card with address listed;
Current homeowner insurance policy or bill;
Current automobile insurance policy or bill;
Educational institution transcript forms for the current school year;
Unexpired professional license issued by a government agency in the U.S.;
W-2 form or 1099 form;
Form DS2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) status;
A letter from a homeless shelter, transitional service provider or a half-way house verifying they receive mail for the customer. The letter must be accompanied by a Certification of Address form;
Mail from financial institutions including checking, savings, or investment account statements;
Mail from federal, state, county, or city government agencies; or
FDLE registration form completed by local sheriff’s department.
Customers who do not have any of the above documents in their name may provide two proofs of residential address from a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom they reside and a Certification of Address form.

In accordance with the REAL ID Act, customers are not required to present these documents for subsequent renewals unless their information changes (e.g., name, address). However, if the customer is applying for a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or Commercial Driver License (CDL), they must present proof of residence documents as outlined below.

Proof of Residential Address for CLP and CDL Holders

All CLP or CDL applicants must present two proofs of Florida residential address in their name. Applicants can present two proofs from List A or one proof from List A and one proof from List B.

LIST A for CLP / CDL – item presented must be in the applicant’s name.

1. A recent lease or rental agreement for the residence with a term of 6 months or greater in the name of the driver (must be dated within the last six months)

2. Current Florida voter registration card

3. Florida vehicle or vessel registration or title

4. Current homeowner’s insurance policy or bill

5. Current utility bill

6. Recent cellular or landline telephone bill (must be dated within the last 60 days)

7. Recent internet service provider bill (must be dated within the last 60 days)

8. Latest property tax bill

LIST B for CLP / CDL – item presented must be in the applicant’s name.

1. Latest W-2 form or 1099 form (must be dated within the last six months)

2. Recent bank statement (must be dated within the last 60 days)

3. Recent credit card statement (must be dated within the last 60 days)

4. Latest military orders

5. Recent pay stub (must be dated within the last 60 days)

6. Recent official government documents

CLP or CDL applicants unable to provide a proof of residential address from list A, must provide a Declaration of Domicile filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court pursuant to Florida Statutes section 222.17 AND one proof of residential address document from list B.

CLP & CDL applicants cannot use a Certification of Address (HSMV-71120) for licensure.

[SoloFL]

^Thanks, as mentioned I already have FL drivers license on relative's address that I'm currently living with. Will be leaving in about a year and plan to travel abroad for a couple years. Hoping to avoid owning/leasing property to maintain FL residency.

Will be back in FL a few times a year to take care of things and still planning doctor/dentist/etc in FL but probably stay in short term lease apts or hotels or other relatives during the temp stays then back traveling abroad. May be 2 years or more mostly abroad and then probably buy in FL when tired of traveling.

[Montanan]

Reference Florida Department of State's legal advisory opinion regarding establishing residency and the use of mail forwarding service located in Clay County, Florida, e.g., SBI.


https://files.floridados.gov/media/699707/de1809.pdf

Various scenarios are discussed, and their opinion is rather decisive.