domiciler

Domiciler is a legal verb used to describe the act of establishing or assigning a domicile for a person or organization. The concept of domicile refers to the place that is considered a person’s permanent home for legal purposes, distinct from mere residence or temporary habitation.

The term derives from the noun domicile, which in turn comes from Latin domicilium and was transmitted into law through French and English legal usage. In practice, a domicile is the place with which a person has a stable, long‑term connection and to which they intend to return, even if they physically reside elsewhere for extended periods.

Domiciling someone involves combining physical presence with the intention to make the place their permanent home, or to fix the location as the center of their legal ties. This status influences which jurisdiction’s laws apply to matters such as taxation, inheritance, family law, and civil obligations. Domicile is often contrasted with mere residence or habitual abode.

Two common notions are domicile of origin and domicile of choice. Domicile of origin is typically assigned at birth, usually based on the domicile of one or both parents. Domicile of choice is acquired when a person moves to a new location with the intent to remain there permanently or indefinitely and to regard that location as their legal home.

In corporate contexts, domicile can refer to the place of incorporation or the registered office, and some jurisdictions permit re‑domiciliation to transfer a company’s legal home to another jurisdiction. Domiciler as a concept thus applies to both individuals and organizations seeking a recognized legal home.