When does a change of domicile officially take effect?

The correct answer is that a change of domicile officially takes effect when you establish permanent residence. This concept is crucial in determining someone's legal residency for various purposes, including taxation and voting.

Establishing permanent residence involves a genuine intent to make a place your home and taking definitive actions to demonstrate that intention. These actions may include obtaining a driver's license in the new state, registering to vote there, and significantly contributing to the local community.

While selling your home or filing a change of address are steps in the process of changing your domicile, they alone do not suffice for the legal change to take effect. For example, simply registering in your new state does not guarantee that you have abandoned your previous domicile; your actions and intent toward establishing permanency in a new location hold greater weight in legal terms. Therefore, it's the establishment of permanent residency that marks the formal change of domicile.