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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Domicile and Residence?

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The terms "domicile" and "residence" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct legal meanings and implications:

  • Domicile: This is your permanent home, where you intend to stay indefinitely. Your domicile is your legal address, and it is the location where you pay taxes, receive social security, vote, bank, and register vehicles and animals. You can have only one domicile, and it remains the same even if you move abroad temporarily.
  • Residence: This is a temporary home where you live or own property. A residence can be a place you live part-time or full-time, and you may have multiple residences. Residence is determined by various factors, such as the time you spend in a state or the presence of certain legal ties.

In summary:

  • Domicile is your permanent home with legal implications, while residence is a temporary home without such implications.
  • You can have multiple residences, but only one domicile.
  • Your domicile determines your legal rights and responsibilities, such as taxation, voting, and social security.
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  • What is the Difference Between Domicile and Residence?
  • Comparative Table: Domicile vs Residence

    • Comparative Table: Domicile vs Residence

    The difference between domicile and residence can be summarized in the following table:

    Domicile Residence
    Domicile is a person's permanent home where they intend to return to and live. Residence is a place where a person temporarily lives, which can range from a summerhouse to a college dorm.
    A person can only have one domicile. A person can have multiple residences.
    Domicile is determined by a person's intent to make a certain place their permanent home. Residence does not require an intention to make it a permanent home.
    Domicile has legal implications, such as voting, registrations (driver's license and car registration), taxes, and claiming benefits. Residence does not necessarily have the same legal implications as domicile.

    In summary, domicile refers to a person's permanent home where they intend to return to and live, while residence is a place where a person temporarily lives. A person can have only one domicile, but multiple residences.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.