Residency for snowbirds who flock to Quartzite AZ

[Colorado guy]

Requirements for residency in AZ say you must live in AZ for 7 months I think, can you use the LTVA since they don't deliver mail in quartzite? And get a post office box /mail forwarder? will RV parks in quartzite recieve mail for you?

 

[maki2]

. Find a job ASAP, that is the fastest way into being an official resident.

 

[maki2]

Quartzsite mail delivery is not your average situation. The local post office is not "normal". It is a privately owned  business with a contract with the USPS to sell postage services and receive mail. The USPS does not deliver mail to any other location in the town. It is not delivered to business addresses, not to houses, not to any place, not even city or county office. The incoming mail for that area only gets sent to that one private contractor. Everyone in town has to directly or indirectly rent a mailbox from them if they want to get mail in Quartzsite. There are boxes at the main Quartzsite post office and at their annex building. Even the private mail box sevices have to go and pick up their customers USPS mail from a post office box number at that contractors. That is what I mean by indirectly.

What this means is that your street address where you will stay in Quartzsite can not possibly be used as a mailing address, it is not even an  available option to do so.

 

[landyachtman]

Welcome to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started.

Most of our rules boil down to two simple over-riding principles: 1) What you post should provide good information (like your introductory post), and 2) Any response to someone else's post should make them feel glad they are part of this forum community.

We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[MrNoodly]

Domicile and mailing address are two different things — or can be. For example, my domicile is in Douglas AZ, down on the border, but my mailing address is a mail forwarder in Quartzsite.

I have a friend living in Douglas who let me use his address for domicile purposes. I went online and got a blank lease agreement form, filled it out with the friend's info and presented it to the DMV along with my SD drivers license and passport. I didn't need Real ID since I have a passport. Then, a few weeks later, when I was in Quartzsite, I moved my mail forwarding from SD to BCM Mail & Ship. You get two addresses with them: one for mail, one for FedEx/UPS and such. I get very little mail -- two or three pieces a month -- which I usually just have them shred.

I'm not sure, but I think the 7 months thing only applies when you want to claim benefits, like MedicAid and in-state tuition. Otherwise, they're more than happy to take your registration and DL fee money anytime.

 

[MrNoodly]

...I'm not sure, but I think the 7 months thing only applies...

Here's what the ADOT site says (added emphasis is mine):


Resident Definition
State law requires that you obtain an Arizona vehicle registration and driver license, immediately if any of the following apply:

• You work in Arizona (other than for seasonal agricultural work).
  
• You are registered to vote in Arizona.
  
• You place children in school without paying the tuition rate of a nonresident.
  
• You have a business with an office in Arizona that bases and operates vehicles in this state.
  
• You obtain a state license or pay school tuition fees at the same rate as an Arizona resident.
  
• You have a business that operates vehicles to transport goods or passengers within Arizona.
  
• You remain in Arizona for a total of seven months or more during any calendar year, regardless of your permanent residence.

So it's not that you have to live in AZ 7 months in order to qualify, it's that you have to get AZ license and registration if you reside in the state lat long annually.

 

[Colorado guy]

MrNoodly, I have been reading NV requirements for [size=small]Domicile. There different I guess in AZ, so a mail forwarder like BMC in quartzite will service for both a driver's license, insurance, and a [size=small]Domicile?[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small]  Miki2 suggested getting a job, but I am too old.[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small] In my first post, I didn't see this question pop-up yet so I had to ask, I will be moving down next late year when it gets cold here in CO. [/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small] I am an ex-postman with arthritis don't like the cold anymore. mostly want o travel between flagstaff and Yuma weather permitting.[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small] I will check out BMC Mail forwarders.[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small]                                                          [/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small]                                  THANKS, EVERYONE FOR THE INFO.[/size][/size]

 

[Colorado guy]

landyachtman, Thanks for the tips, tricks, and rules. Been watching Bob's videos for years, Found time to post a question I thought someone on forum would help and they did. Very welcoming community.

Thanks again for your help Landyachtman.

Colorado guy.

 

[MrNoodly]

[size=small]...so a mail forwarder like BMC in quartzite will service for both a driver's license, insurance, and a [size=small]Domicile?[/size][/size]

No, not domicile.

 

[Colorado guy]

So you don't need a domicile for car insurance? most want to know where do you park the car?

 

[Colorado guy]

So you don't need a domicile for car insurance? most want to know where do you park the car?

 

[MrNoodly]

You need a domicile to get a new license, registration and insurance, and a mail forwarder can not serve as a domicile —except in South Dakota, and maybe TX and FL.

 

[Colorado guy]

You need a domicile to get a new license, registration and insurance, and a mail forwarder can not serve as a domicile —except in South Dakota, and maybe TX and FL.

THANK YOU.

 

[Ravella and X]

My domicile is Florida and my mail goes to Texas and it all works well for me. Including banking and credit cards and ID and insurance. Rah rah escapees!

You are a resident where you reside at any given time. Your domicile is where you have ties to a place, such as insurance and vehicle titles and maybe a doctor or lawyer and any other relationship that shows that, wander as you may, this is the place you come back to (even if it takes years to get back!)

 

[maki2]

The mail forwarder in South Dakota is not the domicle. The RV park that rents you a space overnight is.

 

[MrNoodly]

The RV park at Americas Mailbox was full when I arrived, so I spent the night parked at the curb. If I had stayed somewhere else -- hotel, other RV park, etc. -- my domicile address would still have been 514 Americas Parkway, (PBN number here) Box Elder SD 57719. That's good enough for South Dakota's domicile rules.

 

[wayne49]

"You are a resident where you reside at any given time"

Not legally speaking.

If your domicile is outside of the state that you are temporarily within, then you are legally a non-resident.

 

[Cammalu]

It’s all pretty confusing to me. My street legal UTV is registered in AZ, my drivers license and car in KY, my rig in Montana. So far no problems but I am ducking my head.

 

[Freelander]

Sounds like Johnny Cash "One piece at a time" song.

 

[Ravella and X]

Well Wayne, I have personal experience in two states of being legally considered a resident (part time for tax purposes for one state, and nased on length of time I've been in state for the other. Both without compromising my domicile status in Florida.

My post was to enlighten others regarding the difference between domicile and residence since there is so much confusion about them. Usually I send folks to study up at Escapees website, but I'll try linking a short and clear explanation:

https://www.endevio.com/en/insights/what-is-the-difference-between-domicile-and-residence