How to Establish Residency in Another State

Ms. Inglish has 30 years experience in medicine, psychology, STEM instruction, history, and aerospace education for USAF Civil Air Patrol.

Do You Need to Establish Residency in a Different US State?

Tax Benefits of Living in Different US States

Because every state has its own tax policies, you may want to take advantage of certain financial benefits available in another US state through establishing residency there.

For example, for lower personal taxes, business taxes, or to eliminate state tax altogether, you may want to claim residency in a state other than your own. You might alternatively wish to incorporate your business in a state having no state income tax.

In addition, you may choose to seek residency in a different state for the purpose of securing in-state tuition at a university or college that you would be unable to attend otherwise, because of the expense of out-of-state tuition and fees.

Establishing Residency for in-State Tuition

You may be interested in paying lower, in-state college fees rather than higher, out-of-state tuition.

In this case, check with the college or university you plan to attend and determine their specific requirements for state residency. These must be followed exactly for you to reap their benefits.

Some schools require proof that you have lived in the surrounding local community for at least two years prior to even applying to the college or university. Check your chosen school's website or call its Registrar's Office in order to make sure that you understand these types of residency requirements. On handy alternative is to enroll in and complete online classes while you decide on a move and for a short time after moving, if you are waiting for time requirements of residency to be fulfilled.

Refrain from taking advantage of in-state residency status for college in two US states at once, because this will create a problem. A student may claim residency for in-state tuition and fees in only one state at a time. If a student is found to be double registered for residency status in two states, cost privileges will end and a fine or prosecution for fraud may result. Further, this double residency may raise a red flag for voter fraud.

However, if you are in the US military, many universities and colleges will offer you nonresident (out-of-state) tuition waivers. This benefit is often extended to dependent relatives living with you as well. This lowers the cost of an education for the entire family at once.

Higher Education Facilities in States in Yellow Provide Lower Costs to Neighboring States in Yellow

How to Establish Residency in Another State

Establishing residency in a new state can be performed generally in the same manner in all of the 50 US states. However, you need to check any specific state and the particular part of the state that interests you for more details, which include the length of time one must live in that state in order to qualify legally as a state resident. Be sure to examine a state's specifications for making actual residency complete. Some US states require that you live in the location for only six months, while others require a full year to establish residency.

You will need an actual street address in your new state, and not a P.O. box or a private mailbox (PMB) address, which is often listed as only a street address. The US Postal Service can determine fraudulent residencies in this way and it can cost you at least a hefty fine.

You may not claim residency in two different US states at the same time, because this could lead to multiple voting in federal elections, which is a crime. Even if you own homes in two or more states, you must choose one as your primary residence.

10 Steps to Establish Legal Residency in Another US State

1. Locate a place to live in the new state. Find an apartment or purchase a home if you can.
2. Spend substantial time in the new state during vacations and holidays.
3. Maintain social and business relations in the new state.
4. Have at least one bank account in the new state.
5. Establish a living address with the U.S. Postal Service by going to the nearest post office and filing a change of address form.
6. Have your important documents transferred to your new address (insurance, memberships, licenses, etc.).
7. You will then need to find a job, pay taxes, and file tax returns in the US state in which you seek residency.
8. Obtain a driver's license and car registration in your new US state, or apply for a non-driver's state ID card if you do not drive.
9. Register to vote in your new state.
10. If you have professional licenses, have them transferred to your new state. Do this by contacting the governing board of your occupation in the new state (nurses, physicians, social workers, attorneys, etc.). Temporary licensing can often be granted immediately while you are waiting for the permanent license.

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Which States Offer Which Tax Credits?

Different states offer different kinds of tax credits for businesses, which may include breaks for job creation, research and development, and/or investment.

Changing State Residency After Retirement

If you're planning your retirement and thinking about moving, you may want to consider the tax burden you'll take on in different states. Of course, state taxes are important to everyone, but retirees must take extra care since their income may be fixed.

What brought you to this article?

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: What do I do to establish residency since I’m a nomad living outside of the country?

Answer: Contact the consulate or embassy office of your native country and ask for help for immigrating to America. Depending on your country of origin, the process could be straightforward, or very long and complex.

Question: I recently moved to Arizona, but want to keep my doctor in Nevada on my Medicare account. Is there a way to do this?

Answer: First, go ahead and directly ask your current doctor if this will work!

The US government website Medicare.gov says that you use any doctor, supplier, hospital or other health-related facilities that are enrolled in Medicare and is accepting new Medicare patients.

This sounds like you can keep your doctor. However, notify your Medicare plan provider(s) of your move and new address and ask them if you can keep your doctor.

I hope you can continue to see the same physician and avoid transferring your medical records to another office! If and when you need to choose another doctor, be aware that many US physicians seem to be removing themselves from working with Medicare - in Ohio, seniors are having difficulty finding doctors who are accepting seniors as patients.

Question: Is it possible that we can move to another state as green card holders? How about people with immigrant visas?

Answer: Yes, a green card holder living in one US state can move to another state, but is required to live in the new state least three (3) months before becoming eligible to apply for US citizenship. They must also report their new address to USCIS within ten days.

If you have an immigrant visa status, then you must also report every change of address within ten days.

See this important link for which form to use in either of the above cases:

https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange.

Question: How many days do I need to live in Florida before I can be considered a legal resident?

Answer: For tax purposes, you need to show that you spend more than half the year (183 days) every year in Florida. For in-state college tuition purposes, you must prove with legal documents (like a driver's license or state ID card) that you have a real street address in Florida for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes in the specific term you want to attend college in Florida.

Question: What if you are terminally ill and want to establish residency in a state that allows physician assisted dying?(e.g. Washington Vermont, Oregon).

Answer: "Death with Dignity" is unfortunately becoming a Big Business in America. The drug to end life, usually Seconal in 2018, can cost up to $5,000 or more on top of the physician's fees. Some powdered forms cost only $500. Be careful what you purchase and from whom. Make sure you understand how it will be administered.

If you are terminally ill and especially if you have six months or less to live (a standard hospice requirement), then nothing legal stops you from moving to a state that allows physician-facilitated suicide. Discuss this with your doctor, clergy, and family before doing so.

The same proof of address as required for other benefits of moving to those states will hold: Examples are a driver's license in that state or a utility bill or lease with your address and signature on it.

Question: How many days do I need to stay in Michigan to be considered a resident?

Answer: For educational purposes like in-state tuition, each college and tech/career school in Michigan maintains their own residency requirements, so you will need to contact each one. For a driver's license, please see www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627---,00.html For additional residency purposes, the Secretary of State may also be able to supply the best-updated information.

Question: I am moving into a van but keeping my job in Colorado. I will be primarily traveling and would like to claim residency in either Wyoming or New Mexico, because neither has a state tax. How would I do this?

Answer: This question needs to be put to officials in Wyoming and New Mexico, but they may determine that the question is behind some sort of illegal activity. Cities around the USA are beginning to legally ban people from living inside their vehicles, except for RVs kept in legal RV parks. One reason for the spreading ban is the difficulty of counting these vehicle residents in the upcoming Census2020, but other reasons have included tax evasion and fraud, evading criminal prosecution, evading child support, and others. You may find it useful to consult an attorney before contacting the officials I mentioned.

Question: Can I move to a different state and continue my current state's residency?

Answer: I find that many attorneys advise against seeking dual state residency. Remember that voting can be done only in one state and a person may have a driver's license in only one state. For your particular case, contact your attorney for appropriate advice.

© 2007 Patty Inglish MS

Comments

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 20, 2015:

@KAgi MariJade - I know several people who have done this move successfully from my state to another state and have kept their disability payments going. They asked their current disability case workers to help them do it and the case workers helped every time. It all went very smoothly. Best of success!

Kagi MariJade on December 20, 2015:

I am disabled and trying to relocate to Montana as I have friends there I can establish a street address with as a roommate, but I am unable to work, I am looking for info about how to establish residency in order to qualify for state benefits in my new state and complete my disability application, since I am in Kansas where it is incredibly hard to do so. Do you have an article that addresses this?

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 17, 2014:

What a nice surprise! Thanks for alerting me; I hope the Hub is helpful to many people -- I hope you love Oregon if you move to that state. There are so many states I'd like to occupy, that I better get and RV and travel.

Mary Hyatt from Florida on May 17, 2014:

I am thinking of moving to Oregon from Florida. I Googled Oregon's laws on residency, and your Hub was #1!!

Great info here. I think my answer was six months.

Arthur George Rettell jr. ( from AZ. STATE on September 11, 2012:

Great time spent and informative, but i was wondering about people whom are homeless and cut out of there State and or circle/click workforce due 2 UN foreseen or known circumstances, as it is very hard for people whom even had jobs and homes and lost out.

The fact of being clean enough to be able to go into a business to ask. The hygiene thing is of utmost importance. Hard to start over with out help or under table employment with out the hassle of people not looking at people as a decease or druggy and the such.

Impressive history and like that you like knowing the family tree. Were do you find the time i could say, but people do not surprise me as time can go by in ones life and all of sudden we add up, and see, my god i done or they done all that. As a trucker and the hundreds of thousands of miles and USA COVERED. thnku

francisid on May 13, 2011:

another great hub!

seems like living your US dream would take a lot of effort before it materializes.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 11, 2008:

Much success to you both! It great when Hub Pages information helps osmeone. :)

Fierce Manson from Atlanta on May 11, 2008:

Hi Patty, I really appreciate the information, and will pass it on to her, I already spoke to her this morning, but will definitely give her these links. Thanks!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 11, 2008:

Hi adriene2 - there are some areas in California that are better for success than others; I did Hubs for them recently; perhaps they can also help your friend:

https://hubpages.com/business/Top-10-Jobs-in-the-I...

https://hubpages.com/business/Orange-County

https://hubpages.com/business/Jobs-in-Sacramenta

https://toughnickel.com/finding-job/Top_California

Fierce Manson from Atlanta on May 11, 2008:

Hi Patty, I just happened to come across your hub, very interesting, a friend of mine really needs to read this she is determined to make California her residency. She lives in Illinois, but thinks moving will give her better options according what the state has to offer. I am afraid she may be making a mistake, I advised her to please do her research before doing so.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on April 13, 2008:

HI Kay! it depends on what your goals are, I think.

For example, during the part of Welfare Reform occuring in the late 1990s, some folks moved from state to state as benefits ran out in one and were still available in another.

For the rest of us, I think it might depend on where we want to work, or to start a business, or to retire. Then it probably takes a Google search about those aspects.

Best regards!

Kay Kerns on April 12, 2008:

Very interesting hub Patty, I never even thought of the benefits.. do you have any reccomendations as to which states are the best to establish residency?

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 04, 2007:

Earth Angel! I look forward to reading this new Hub of which you speak. There is something particularly and peculiarly wrong with a stalker. I'm not sure this condition can even be cured. I am very glad you are safe!

Be Blessed.

Earth Angel on December 03, 2007:

Yes it was Patty!! Thanks for the response!! My stalker tracked me for over 3 years with the express intent of killing me or having me killed!! I was looking for a new topic for a new Hub and when I saw yours about Establishing Residency in a new state, I knew exactly what to write about!! You are always an inspiration Patty!! Thank you so very much for all the GREAT Hubs you produce!! Blessings, Earth Angel!!

Zsuzsy Bee from Ontario/Canada on December 03, 2007:

As usual a great HUB

regards Zsuzsy

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 03, 2007:

Stalking is a horrible circumstance. I'm glad you found a way out of it. Thanks for the comments and welcome back!

Earth Angel on December 03, 2007:

Another GREAT Hub Patty!! Thank you!! I've been away for a few days and it feels good to be back in the saddle!! I set up residency in another state because I was being stalked!! It was a hassle and yet the benefits were sooooooooo well worth the effort!! Thanks again for the GREAT Hub!! Blessings, Earth Angel!!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 03, 2007:

Thanks. I have a friend that can access his adoption records only if he establishes residency in another state, where the records are kept, and he can't do it. His job is too good here - he's a master jeweler and manager with the largest jewelry company here - it does more bsuiness than Tiffany's!

gabriella05 from Oldham on December 02, 2007:

Great hub

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 02, 2007:

It might be easier! :)

As a special project in the early 1970's, a local high school class set up a fake person (a paper man) and got that person accepted to collge on a full ride scholarship.

Couldn't do that as easily in the US today, I think.

Elisabeth Sowerbutts from New Zealand on December 02, 2007:

Wow that's even worse than changing states in Australia and having to register the car! You might as well just change countries!