Legal Definitions - permanent abode

In legal terms, a permanent abode, often referred to as domicile, signifies a person's principal and fixed place of residence where they intend to remain indefinitely, and to which they intend to return whenever they are absent. It is not merely a temporary dwelling, but rather the place that a person considers their true, long-term home for legal purposes, such as voting, taxation, or determining jurisdiction for lawsuits.

• Example 1: Sarah is a traveling nurse who takes assignments in different states for several months at a time. Although she rents apartments near her temporary workplaces, she owns a house in Colorado, where her family lives, her car is registered, and she files her taxes. She always returns to her Colorado home between assignments and considers it her primary residence.

  Explanation: Despite her frequent travels and temporary residences, Sarah's permanent abode is her house in Colorado because she maintains legal ties there and has the clear intention to return and reside there indefinitely, making it her true home.

• Example 2: David is a college student attending a university in California. He lives in a dorm room on campus for nine months out of the year. However, his parents live in Texas, where he grew up, where his driver's license is issued, and where he spends his summer breaks.

  Explanation: Even though David physically resides in California for most of the year, his permanent abode remains in Texas. This is because he considers his parents' home his true, long-term residence, and he intends to return there when not at school, maintaining his legal ties to Texas.

• Example 3: Maria owns a condominium in Florida and a cabin in North Carolina. She spends winters in Florida and summers in North Carolina. However, she registers her vehicles, votes, and receives all her official mail at her Florida address, and she has stated in her will that Florida is her primary residence.

  Explanation: While Maria has two residences, her permanent abode is the condominium in Florida. Her actions and stated intentions demonstrate that she considers Florida her principal home for legal and personal purposes, despite spending significant time elsewhere.