Legal Definitions - elected domicile

Elected Domicile refers to a specific address that an individual or entity formally designates for receiving legal notices, correspondence, and other official communications related to a particular legal matter or transaction. This chosen address may not be their actual physical residence or primary place of business, but it is legally recognized for the specific purpose for which it was elected. It essentially serves as a designated point of contact for legal purposes, ensuring that important documents are delivered to a reliable location.

Here are a few examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: International Property Owner

  A citizen of Canada lives and works permanently in Australia. They decide to purchase a vacation property in their home province in Canada. For the property purchase, ongoing tax notices, and any potential legal issues related to the property (e.g., tenant disputes), they formally designate their sister's address in Canada as their elected domicile.

  How it illustrates the term: Even though the individual's actual domicile (their permanent home) is in Australia, they have legally chosen a specific address in Canada to receive all official and legal communications pertaining to their Canadian property. This ensures that important documents are received and handled within the correct jurisdiction, rather than being sent to their international address.

• Example 2: Business Contractual Agreement

  A software development company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, enters into a significant contract with a client based in Miami, Florida. To streamline any potential legal processes or formal notices related to this specific contract, both parties agree within the contract that the elected domicile for the Seattle company, for the purposes of this agreement only, will be the office of their legal counsel in Orlando, Florida.

  How it illustrates the term: Despite the company's primary business operations and general domicile being in Seattle, they have designated a specific Florida address (their lawyer's office) as the official point of contact for all legal matters arising from this particular contract. This makes it more efficient to serve legal documents within the relevant state if a dispute occurs.

• Example 3: Frequent Traveler with Investments

  An independent consultant travels extensively for work, often spending only a few weeks a year at their primary residence in London. They have a substantial investment portfolio managed by a financial institution in Switzerland. Due to their unpredictable travel schedule, the consultant instructs their Swiss financial institution that all legal correspondence, regulatory notices, or court documents related to their investment accounts should be sent to the address of their trusted wealth manager in Zurich.

  How it illustrates the term: The consultant's actual domicile is London, but because of their lifestyle, they have formally chosen their wealth manager's office in Zurich as their elected domicile for all legal communications concerning their Swiss investments. This ensures that critical legal documents are received and acted upon by a reliable party, regardless of the consultant's physical location at any given time.