Florida Residency & Your Estate

How to Become a Florida Resident

With our firm on your side, this process doesn’t have to be difficult. You can file a Declaration of Domicile with the Circuit County clerk, and thus you could legally secure Florida residency. However, you can only be the resident of one state at a time.

Other aspects that a court may look at include where your children attend school, where you work, proof of utility payments, etc. At Crary Buchanan, you can discuss your options and eligibility with a Board Certified Specialist in wills, trusts, and estates, or you could speak to an attorney who is AV® rated for proven ethics and skill.

Why Should I Become a Florida Resident?

Unlike most states, Florida is one of the few that does not impose a personal income tax on residents. In fact, personal income tax is prohibited in the Florida Constitution. It would take a full-blown amendment to change it.

Not only does this apply at the state level, but the counties and cities of Florida are likewise prohibited from levying an income tax. Florida also has exemptions that could protect your estate from creditors. There are a list of assets which cannot be touched by levies and wage garnishments.

Florida provides numerous other legal benefits to residents:

• There are no death taxes, inheritance taxes, or estate taxes when someone dies.
• If you keep assets in a tenancy, all these assets will be protected as well.
• For married couples, both real and personal property are protected after one spouse’s death, as their assets automatically transfer to the other spouse.

All this and more can be hugely beneficial to you and your family as you prepare for the future, but only if you are a resident of Florida. When you need to make sure your legal bases are covered, you can rely on Crary Buchanan, where we have more than 85 years of legal experience to our name. Our Port St. Lucie estate planning lawyers can help you each step of the way, including with issues of Florida residency.

Contact a Port St. Lucie estate planning attorney today, or fill out a case review to learn more about Florida residency and your estate plan.