The Importance Of Domicile

"Residence without intention or intention without residence will not do to establish a domicile of choice".

In English law domicile is a vitally important concept which can have important ramifications affecting the succession of assets, tax liabilities and whether an individual is entitled to pursue certain proceedings in the English courts. Domicile is determined not necessarily by where someone lives but by the country that a person treats as their permanent home, or lives in and has a substantial connection with.

Everyone is born with a domicile of origin which, if your father is alive and your parents are married at the time of your birth, will be determined by your father's domicile. This domicile of origin can be displaced by a domicile of choice, when another country is chosen as a person's permanent home.