32
•
Payment of California state income tax as a resident.
•
Registering to vote and voting in California.
•
Possessing California motor vehicle license plates.
•
Possessing a valid California driver’s license.
•
Maintaining a permanent military address or home of record in
California while in the armed services.
•
Establishing and maintaining active California bank accounts.
•
Being a petitioner for a divorce in California.
In general, an unmarried minor (a person under 18 years of age) derives
legal residence from the parent or parents with whom he/she lives. The
student who is within the state only for educational purposes does not gain
the status of resident regardless of the length of his/her stay in California.
Exceptions to the residence requirements are as follows:
1. Persons below the age of 19 whose parents were residents of
California but who left the state while the student who remained was
still a minor. When the minor reaches 18, the exception continues for
one year to enable the student to qualify as a resident student.
2. Persons below the age of 19 who have been present in California for
more than a year before the residence determination date and who
have been entirely self-supporting for that period of time.
3. Persons below the age of 19 who have lived with and have been under
the continuous direct care and control of an adult, not a parent, for the
two years immediately preceding the residence determination date. Said
adult must have been a California resident for the most recent year.
4. A student who is a member of the armed forces of the United States
stationed in this state on active military duty shall be entitled to resident
classification for one year from the time the member reports for duty in
California.
5. A student who is a natural or adopted child, stepchild or spouse and who is
a dependent of a member of the armed forces of the United States
stationed in this state on active duty shall be entitled to resident classification
for one year from the time the member reports for duty in California.
This military exception does not require any intent on the part of the
military member or dependent to become a resident of California. If,
however, after the one year has elapsed the member or dependent
has not satisfied California residence requirements, he/she will not be
entitled to resident classification until the intent requirements have
been fulfilled for the one-year period.
6. A student who is a full-time employee of a public institution of higher
learning, or whose parent or spouse is a full-time employee, will be
entitled to resident classification until he/she has resided in the state
the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
37
