Where to File in Miami-Dade County
You file your Declaration of Domicile with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Miami-Dade County, in the county where you reside. The clerk records it in the public records and charges a small statutory service fee (§28.24). Because Florida allows remote online notarization, you can sign from home, even from out of state, before your move is complete. We prepare the declaration for Miami-Dade County and deliver it to the clerk for recording.
We serve residents across Miami-Dade County, including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Aventura, Doral, Hialeah — and a top landing spot for Northeast and international relocators and snowbirds.
Why Establish Florida Domicile
Florida has no state income tax and no estate or inheritance tax, so domicile here can sharply cut what your former state collects on income and at death. It also unlocks Florida’s homestead protections (creditor protection and the Save Our Homes cap) and a range of asset-protection exemptions. The catch: your former state, especially a high-tax one, may treat you as a “statutory resident” still owing its income tax if you keep a home there and spend more than 183 days in-state. Winning that fight takes both the paperwork and the day-count. Read the full domicile guide and checklist →
The Step Most Miami-Dade County Movers Miss
Establishing domicile changes the law that governs your estate. Once Florida is home, Florida’s rules on homestead, the spousal elective share, powers of attorney, and health-care directives control — and a will or trust drafted under another state’s law can misfire here. Re-executing your plan under Florida law makes it work and adds one more clear fact that you’re domiciled in Florida. A lady bird deed can also keep your new Miami-Dade County home out of probate.
New to Miami-Dade County, or about to be?
In one free 30-minute consult we map your domicile checklist and the Florida plan that should go with it.
Book your free consultFrequently Asked Questions
Where do I file a Declaration of Domicile in Miami-Dade County?
You file it with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Miami-Dade County, in the county where you live. The clerk records it and collects a small statutory service charge (§28.24). You can sign by Florida remote online notarization, so you don't have to appear in person — we prepare it and handle the recording.
Does filing make me a Florida resident by itself?
No. The declaration is strong evidence of domicile, but not conclusive (§222.17(7)). Pair it with the rest of the checklist — Florida driver license, voter and vehicle registration, homestead exemption, and severing ties to your former state — and limit your days in any high-tax state you left.
Can I establish Miami-Dade County domicile if I keep a home up north?
Yes. Section 222.17(2) is written for exactly that: you swear your Miami-Dade County home is your predominant and principal home. Your former state will scrutinize it, so the day-count and supporting facts need to clearly favor Florida.
Sources of Law
- Fla. Stat. §222.17 — manifesting and evidencing domicile in Florida (sworn statement filed with the clerk of the circuit court). §28.24 — clerk service charges. flsenate.gov (retrieved 2026-06-06)
Updated June 6, 2026. Reviewed by Kevin D. Klagge, Esq., Fla. Bar No. 99502. General information about Florida law, not legal advice. Domicile turns on your specific facts; a declaration is evidence of domicile, not a guarantee of any tax result.