Domicile is the place where a person or entity has its primary, permanent home or principal place of business. Domicile is important in the law for determining the state and county in which a person or entity may be sued, vote, and is obligated to pay taxes. For a person with multiple homes or different places of residence, domicile is the place the person plans to return to after being away, and may be indicated by the place where the person maintains important services and relationships, such as banking, driver’s license registration, incorporation, and work/employment. A person or entity is said to be a domiciliary of the domicile.

In North Dakota, domicile is defined as the place where an individual has their permanent home to which they intend to return whenever absent. It is a significant legal concept as it determines the jurisdiction for legal actions such as lawsuits, the state in which an individual can exercise their right to vote, and where they are required to pay personal income taxes. For individuals with multiple residences, the domicile is typically where they have the most substantial connections, which can be evidenced by factors such as where they maintain a driver's license, where they bank, the location of their primary employment, and where they have registered their vehicles. For entities like corporations, domicile is usually where the principal place of business is located or where the entity is incorporated. Establishing domicile affects legal rights and obligations, and changing one's domicile requires both physical presence in the new location and the intent to remain there indefinitely.