Opinion ID: 1239200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Definition of Residency

Text: The attempt to define nonresident military necessarily begins with a discussion of what is meant by residence. In its strictest legal sense, residence usually requires living in the state for a minimal period of time, generally one year. Then again, residence is sometimes confused with the quite different legal concept of domicile. Still another  and perhaps the laymen's concept of residence  is defined with emphasis on the intent of the person to remain on a more or less permanent basis in the state. On the other hand, the Census use of the term residence is defined in terms of habitation or where the person lives most of the time. Finally, for purposes of voting, residency might be defined as the durational requirement to register, which, in Alaska, is presently 75 days. Although various concepts of residency were explored, we have ultimately chosen the strictest legal definition, assuming that if the justices (as lawyers) had wanted us to consider domicile, Census habitation, laymen's intent or durational registration requirements, the instructions would have so specified. But even the legal definition of residence might differ depending upon the purpose of the requirement (e.g., licenses, taxing, welfare or divorces). Thus we have made a general assumption that residency for present purposes would minimally require that the party have lived in the state for at least one year, and we have explored the impact and consequences of including military personnel with various tours of duty in Alaska.