Merely purchasing a new home in a new state or moving to a state under military orders does not necessarily indicate that you have changed your legal residence. Claiming the state Homestead exemption will affect your legal residence. Moving overseas does not change your legal residence and it is virtually impossible to change your legal residence once you are overseas. The acts described above may be interpreted by authorities as expressing your choice of legal residence. Therefore, you are advised to vote, exercise you rights, and claim the benefits of legal residence only in the state where you intend your domicile to be, unless you intend to abandon your old legal residence and establish a new one.
Voting is considered the most important indicator of intent in most states.
Non-military spouses will have to pay income tax on their income earned in whatever state they are stationed. To maintain residency in another state the non-military spouse should file 2 tax returns, one in the state assigned and one in the state of residency. Remember that in addition to establishing your liability for state income taxes, your domicile or legal residence determines many other important matters. Liability for state inheritance taxes. The right to vote.