Dr

.SHAKUNTALAMI
SRANATI
ONALREHABI
LITATI
ONUNI
VERSI
TY

Lucknow

Facul
tyofLaw

PROJECTON

[
DOMI
CILEI
NCOMMONLAW ANDCI
VILLAW]

For
COURSEON‘
PRI
VATEI
NTERNATI
ONALLAW’

Submi
tt
edby

AshwaniSi
[ ngh,
Shubham Tr
ipat
hi,
Rit
uSaxena,
Abhi
shekDubey&Abhi
shekVer
ma]
Academi
cSessi 2017-
on: 18

Undert
heGui
danceof

Mr s.Shipr
aDubey
Prof
.inLaw&Facultyf
orPr i
vat
eInt
er nat
ional
Law
Facult
yofLaw
Dr
.Shakunt
alaMi
sraNationalRehabi
l
itati
onUniver
sit
y
 TABLEOFCONTENT

I
ntr
oduct
ion
 Gener
alRul
es
 Acqui
si
ti
onofDomi
ci
leofChoi
ce
a.Resi
dence
b.TheRequi
si
teI
ntent
ion
 TheBur
denofPr
oof
 ChangeofDomi
cil
eandChangeofNat
ional
i
ty
 Domi
cil
eofdependent
s
 Mar
ri
edwomen
 Mi
norChi
l
dren
 Lunat
ics
 Domi
cil
eofMar
ri
edWomen
 Domi
cil
eandNat
ional
i
tyCont
rast
ed
 Mer
it
sandDemer
it
sofDomi
cil
e
 Domi
cil
eofOr
igi
nandDomi
ci
leofChoi
ce
 Compar
isonBet
weenDomi
ci
leofOr
igi
nandChoi
ce
 Concept
sofResi
dence
 Or
dinar
yResi
dence
 Habi
tual
Resi
dence
 Ref
orms
I
NTRODUCTI
ON
I
thasbeenuni
ver
sal
l
yrecogni
zedt
hatquest
ionsaf
fect
ingt
heper
sonalst
atusofahumanbei
ng
shoul
dbegov
ernedconst
ant
lybyoneandt
hesamel
aw,
irr
espect
iveofwher
ethef
act
sgi
vi
ngr
iset
o
t
hequest
ionsmayhav
eoccur
red.Butunani
mit
ygoesnof
urt
her
.InEngl
andi
thasbeenl
ongset
tl
ed
t
hatquest
ionsaf
fect
ingst
atusar
edet
ermi
nedbyt
hel
awoft
hedomi
cil
eoft
hepor
osi
ti
esandt
hat
,
br
oadl
yspeaki
ng,
suchquest
ionsar
ethoseaf
fect
ingf
ami
l
yrel
ati
onsandf
ami
l
ypr
oper
ty.Tobemor
e
pr
eci
se,t
hef
oll
owi
ngmat
ter
sar
etoagr
eat
erorl
esserext
entgov
ernedbyt
heper
sonall
aw;t
he
essent
ialv
ali
dit
yofamar
ri
age;t
heef
fectofmar
ri
ageont
hepr
opr
iet
aryr
ight
sofhusbandandwi
fe.
Jur
isdi
cti
oni
ndi
vor
ceandnul
l
ityofmar
ri
age,
thoughonl
ytoal
i
mit
eddegr
ee,
legi
ti
macy
,legi
ti
mat
ing
andadopt
ion;
wil
l
sofmov
abl
esandi
ntest
atesuccessi
ont
omov
abl
es.

TheconceptofDomi
cil
einCommonLaw andCi
vi
lLaw ar
edi
sti
nctanddi
ff
erentf
rom each
ot
hert
o agr
eatext
ent
.In Common Law domi
cil
emeansequi
val
entofaper
son'
sper
manent
r
esi
denceandi
nci
vi
llaw i
tmeanshabi
tualr
esi
dence.Thought
hecommonl
aw v
ari
antmayseem
v
erysi
mpl
i
sti
c,t
her
ear
etwov
ari
antoft
heDomi
cil
eTheor
y,t
heyar
eDomi
cil
eofOr
igi
nandDomi
cil
e
ofchoi
ce.Domi
ci
leofOr
igi
niscommuni
cat
edt
hroughoper
ati
onofl
awt
oeachper
sonatbi
rt
h,i
.e.
,
domi
cil
eoft
hef
atherort
hemot
her
,dependentont
hel
egi
ti
macyoft
heof
fspr
ing.Domi
cil
eofChoi
ce
i
sthatdomi
ci
let
hatanyper
sonoff
ullagei
sfr
eet
opossesi
nst
eadoft
heoneheal
readypossesses.
TheEngl
i
shr
ulei
smar
redbyr
ulest
hatar
ever
ycompl
ex,andof
tenl
eadst
ouncer
tai
ntyi
nit
s
out
come.

Accor
dingt
oWW Cook,
the“
singl
econcept
iont
heor
y”Engl
i
shl
awt
akest
hev
iewt
hatanyt
est
t
hatdet
ermi
nespl
aceofaper
son'
sdomi
cil
emustr
emai
nconst
antnomat
terwhatt
henat
ureoft
he
i
ssuemaybebef
oret
hecour
t.

GENERALRULES
Ther
ear
efi
vegener
alr
ulest
hatappl
ytot
heconceptofDomi
cil
etheyar
e

1)Noper
sonshal
lbewi
thoutdomi
cil
e.Tobr
ingi
ntoef
fectt
hisr
ulet
hel
aw assi
gnst
oev
ery
per
sonadomi
cil
eofor
igi
ntoev
eryper
sonatbi
rt
h,namel
ytoal
egi
ti
mat
echi
l
d.Thedomi
cil
e
oft
hemot
hert
oani
l
legi
ti
mat
echi
l
dandt
ofoundl
i
ngpl
acewher
ethechi
l
disf
ound.
2)Aper
soncannev
erhav
etwodomi
cil
es.Thi
sist
oensur
ethatsev
eralf
act
orsanddomi
cil
es
don’
thur
thi
sli
fe.Ther
efor
eforpr
act
icalr
easonsi
tisnecessar
ythataper
sonshoul
dn'
t
possesmor
ethandomi
cil
e.Thi
sisal
socal
l
edt
hel
awoft
he“
Lawdi
str
ict
”.
3)Thef
actt
hatadomi
cil
emi
ghtsi
gni
fyaconnect
ionwi
thasi
ngl
esy
stem ofl
aw,butt
hesame
l
awmi
ghtnotappl
yuni
for
mlyt
oal
lthecl
assesoft
hatpeopl
eoft
hatpar
ti
cul
ardomi
cil
e.
4)Ther
eisal
way
sapr
esumpt
iont
hatadomi
cil
eisev
ercont
inui
ng,t
hebur
denofpr
oofl
i
eson
t
hepor
osi
ti
est
opr
ovet
hati
thaschanged.Thi
sfact
ormayhav
eadeci
siv
eef
fectonhi
scase,
ast
hel
awappl
i
edwi
l
lchangedr
ast
ical
l
y.
5)Subj
ectt
o ot
herst
atut
oryexcept
ions t
he conceptofdomi
cil
e shal
lal
way
s be deci
ded
accor
dingt
otheEngl
i
shconceptnot
wit
hst
andi
nganyot
herf
orei
gnconceptofl
aw.

ACQUI
SITI
ONOFDOMI
CILEOFCHOI
CE
Thet
wor
equi
sit
esf
oracqui
ri
ngadomi
cil
eofchoi
cear
eresi
denceandi
ntent
ion.I
tmustbepr
oved
t
hatt
heper
soni
nquest
ionest
abl
i
shedhi
sresi
dencei
nacer
tai
ncount
rywi
tht
hei
ntent
ionof
r
emai
ningt
her
eper
manent
ly.Suchani
ntent
ionhowev
erunequi
vocal
itmay
bepersedoesnotsuf
fi
ce.
Theset
woel
ement
sofr
esi
denceandi
ntent
ionmustconcur
,butt
hisi
snott
osayt
her
eneedbeuni
ty
oft
imei
nthei
rconcur
rence.Thei
ntent
ionmayei
therpr
ecedeorsucceedt
heest
abl
i
shmentoft
he
r
esi
dence.Theemi
grantf
ormshi
sint
ent
ionbef
orehel
eav
esEngl
andf
orAust
ral
i
a;anemi
grantwho
f
leesper
secut
ionmaynotf
ormi
tunt
ily
ear
slat
er.Acqui
sit
ioncanbedonet
hrought
hef
oll
owi
ng
means.

A)RESI
DENCE
I
nIRC vDuchessofPor
tl
and,i
twashel
dthatResi
dencei
nacount
ryf
ort
he
pur
posesoft
hel
awofdomi
cil
eisphy
sicalpr
esencei
nthatcount
ryasani
nhabi
tantofi
t.What
ever
wei
ghti
sgi
vent
othel
engt
hofr
esi
dencei
tisundeni
abl
ethatt
imei
snott
hesol
ecr
it
eri
onofdomi
cil
e.
Bot
hlongr
esi
denceandshor
tresi
dencedoesnotconst
it
ute negat
ivedomi
cil
eev
ery
thi
ngdepends
ont
heat
tendantci
rcumst
ances,f
ort
heyal
onedi
scl
oset
henat
ureoft
heper
son’
spr
esencei
na
count
ry.I
nshor
t,t
her
esi
dencemustanswer“
aqual
i
tat
iveaswel
lasaquant
it
ati
vet
est
”.Thusi
n
JoppavWoodi
twashel
dthatar
esi
denceoft
went
y-f
ivey
ear
sinI
ndi
adi
dnotsuf
fi
cet
ogi
vea
cer
tai
nJohnSmi
thanI
ndi
andomi
cil
ebecauseofhi
sal
l
egedi
ntent
ionul
ti
mat
elyt
oret
urnt
oScot
land,
t
hel
andofhi
sbi
rt
h.

B)THEREQUI
SITEI
NTENTI
ON
a)Thenat
ureofi
ntent
iont
oresi
deper
manent
lyorf
oranunl
i
mit
edt
imei
napar
ti
cul
arcount
ry
i
srequi
redf
ort
heacqui
sit
ionofdomi
cil
eofchoi
ce.Thi
smayhowev
ernotposeanydi
ff
icul
tyast
he
wor
d“per
manent
ly”i
susedi
nit
sor
dinar
ymeani
ngassi
gni
fyi
ngt
heopposi
teoft
empor
ary
‟.The
wor
d;“
per
manent
”accor
dingt
otheShor
terOxf
ordEngl
i
shDi
cti
onar
ymeans“
last
ingordesi
gnedt
o
l
asti
ndef
ini
tel
ywi
thoutchange”andt
hisi
ndeedi
sthedef
ini
ti
ont
hatmostoft
hej
udgeshav
e
r
ecogni
zedwhenr
equi
ret
oconsi
dert
henat
ureofi
ntent
ionnecessar
yforachangeofdomi
ci
le.I
n
UdnyvUdny
,fori
nst
ance,Lor
dWESTBURYdescr
ibedt
hei
ntent
ionasbei
ngonet
oresi
de“
foran
unl
i
mit
edt
ime”
.Amor
emoder
nst
atementt
othesameef
fecti
sthatofSCARMANJ,

Whor
efer
redt
oani
ntent
iont
oresi
de“
indef
ini
tel
y”.

b)Ev
idenceofI
ntent
ion

Mostdi
sput
esast
odomi
cil
etur
nont
hequest
ionwhet
hert
henecessar
yint
ent
ioni
s
accompani
edwi
thr
esi
dence,andt
hisquest
ionof
teni
nvol
vesv
erycompl
exandi
ntr
icat
eissuesof
f
act
.Thi
sisbecause“
ther
eisnoact
,noci
rcumst
ancei
naman’
sli
fe,
howev
ert
ri
vi
ali
tmaybei
nit
sel
f,
whi
choughtt
obel
eftoutofconsi
der
ati
oni
ntr
yingt
hequest
ionwhet
hert
her
ewasani
ntent
iont
o
changet
hedomi
ci
le.At
ri
vi
alactmi
ghtpossi
blybewei
ght
ierwi
thr
egar
dtodet
ermi
ningt
hisquest
ion
t
hananactwhi
chwasofmor
eimpor
tancet
oamani
nhi
sli
fet
ime.

Ther
efor
etoassesswhet
hert
her
eisani
ntent
iont
oacqui
reapar
ti
cul
ardomi
cil
e,t
her
eshoul
dbean
ev
idenceofi
ntent
iont
hatshoul
dbel
ookedf
or

c)Vol
unt
aryResi
dence
Ther
emaybesev
eralci
rcumst
anceswher
ether
emay
bedoubtaboutt
hewi
l
li
ngnessoft
he
per
sont
oacqui
reapar
ti
cul
ardomi
cil
e.Ther
ear
ecer
tai
ncat
egor
iesofper
sonswhof
allsuspecti
n
t
hiscat
egor
y.

1)Pr
isoner
s:A pr
isonerr
etai
ns t
he domi
ci
le oft
he count
rywhi
ch he l
eftbef
ore he was
i
mpr
isoned.
2)Ref
ugees:I
nthecaseofRef
ugeesi
tbecomesdi
ff
icul
t,ast
hef
act
orst
hatf
orcedt
othem t
o
f
leet
hei
rdomi
ci
le,
andt
aker
esi
denceatanewpl
ace,
mightmakebecomeamat
terofchoi
ce
l
ateron.Al
thought
her
eisapr
esumpt
ionagai
nstt
hel
ossofdomi
cil
e.
3)Fugi
ti
vesf
rom Just
ice:I
famanl
eav
eshi
sdomi
cil
etoescapet
heconsequencesofacr
ime,
t
hepr
esumpt
ioni
sthathehasl
eftt
hepl
aceper
manent
lyandt
hatt
her
eisaf
reshacqui
sit
ion
 ofaf
reshdomi
cil
e.

THEBURDENOFPROOF
Anal
i
enl
i
vingi
nEngl
andunderacer
ti
fi
cat
eofr
egi
str
ati
oni
sli
abl
etodepor
tat
iondoes
notpr
eventhi
mfr
om acqui
ri
nganEngl
i
shDomi
cil
eofhi
s choi
ce,ordepr
ivehi
m ofadomi
cil
eal
ready
acqui
red.Ther
efor
eaper
sonoff
orei
gnor
igi
nli
vi
ngi
nacount
ryf
orat
imewhi
chqual
i
fieshi
mforadomi
cil
e
oft
hatcount
ymayacqui
ret
hedomi
cil
eoft
hatcount
ryev
ent
houghhei
sst
il
lthebur
denofpr
ooft
hatl
i
eson
t
hosewhoal
l
egeachangeofdomi
cil
evar
ieswi
tht
heci
rcumst
ances.I
nthi
sconnect
iont
her
ear
etwo
obser
vat
ionst
hatmaybemade.Fi
rst
,Engl
i
shJudgeshav
etakent
hev
iewt
hati
trequi
resf
arst
rongerev
idence
t
o est
abl
i
sh t
heabandonmentofa domi
cil
eofor
igi
ninf
avoroff
resh domi
cil
ethan t
o est
abl
i
sh t
he
abandonmentofadomi
cil
eofor
igi
ninf
avorofaf
reshdomi
cil
ethant
oest
abl
i
shachangef
rom domi
cil
eto
anot
her
.Andbywayofcont
rast
,ther
eisaut
hor
it
yfort
hev
iewt
hatachangeofdomi
cil
efr
om onecount
ryt
o
anot
herundert
hesamesov
erei
gn.I
tisnott
obel
i
ght
lyi
nfer
redt
hatamani
ntendst
oset
tl
eper
manent
lyi
na
count
rywher
ehewi
l
lpossesst
hest
atusofanal
i
en,wi
thal
lthedi
ff
icul
ti
esandconf
li
ctofdut
iest
hatsucha
st
atusi
nvol
ves.

CHANGEOFDOMI
CILEANDCHANGEOFNATI
ONALI
TY
I
tisi
mpor
tantt
oemphasi
zet
hatnat
ional
i
tyanddomi
cil
ear
etwodi
ff
erentconcept
ionsandt
hata
manmaychanget
hel
att
erwi
thoutdi
vest
inghi
msel
fofhi
snat
ional
i
ty.Themer
efactt
hathol
dst
he
ci
ti
zenshi
poft
hatf
orei
gncount
ry.

DOMI
CILEOFDEPENDENTS
Mi
nor
s,mar
ri
edwomenandment
all
ydi
sor
der
edper
sons,suchasi
diot
sandl
unat
ics,f
alli
nthe
cat
egor
yofdependent
s.I
nrespectofdomi
cil
ethewor
d‘Dependent
’isappl
i
edt
oaper
soni
ngener
al
whoi
sincapabl
eofhav
ingadomi
cil
eofhi
schoi
ce.Thegener
alr
ulei
sthatadependantper
sonhas
t
hedomi
cil
eoft
heper
sonhei
sdependenton.Thedomi
cil
edependency
,asi
tsomet
imesi
scal
l
ed,
is
ani
mposeddomi
ci
leandi
tchangesonl
ywhent
heper
sononwhom t
hedependenti
sdependent
changeshi
sdomi
ci
le.Adependentper
soncan’
tabandonhi
sdependency
.Thus,awi
fewhol
i
ves
separ
atel
yfr
om herhusband,ami
norwhor
anawayf
rom hi
spar
ent
sandal
unat
icwhol
i
vesi
n
anot
hercount
rycannotcl
aim adomi
cil
eoft
hei
rown.I
tisonl
yinonecaset
hatadependentcangeta
newdomi
cil
e.Thi
shappenswhenaf
emal
emi
normar
ri
es.Butt
henwhatsheacqui
resi
sthedomi
cil
e
ofherhusband.Wher
etheper
sononwhom t
heyar
edependentondi
esori
ftheyhav
enoonet
o
dependon,
thent
hedependent
’sdomi
cil
ecannotchangeatal
l
.Thesest
atement
sofl
awi
nrespectof
Engl
i
shl
aw hav
etober
eadsubj
ectt
ocer
tai
nqual
i
ficat
ions,si
ncet
heDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
al
Pr
oceedi
ngsAct
,1973hadmadesomechangesr
elat
ingt
omar
ri
edwomenandmi
norchi
l
dren.

UnderEngl
i
shpr
ivat
eint
ernat
ionall
aw,t
hecapaci
tyt
oacqui
renewdomi
cil
eisgov
ernedbyEngl
i
sh
1
l
aw andnotbyt
hel
aw oft
hepr
evi
ousdomi
cil
eorbyl
aw oft
hei
ntendednew domi
cil
e. Ther
ear
e
basi
cal
l
ythr
eecl
assesofdependent
s,v
iz.
,mi
nor
s,mar
ri
edwomenandment
all
ydi
sor
der
edper
sons.

MARRI
EDWOMEN:
nGr
I mosa2,ar
ayvFor ulewasunder
li
nedt
hat‘
domi
cil
eofamar
ri
edwomani
s,dur
ingcov
ert
ures,
the
sameas,
andchangeswi
tht
hedomi
cil
eofherhusband’
,thi
swast
hebasi
ccommonl
awpr
inci
pleof
uni
tyoft
heper
sonofhusbandandwi
fe.Accor
dingt
oBl
ackst
one,
“Bymar
ri
age,
thehusbandandwi
fe
ar
eoneper
soni
nlaw,i
.e.
,thev
erybei
ngandl
egalexi
stenceofwomani
ssuspendeddur
ingt
he
mar
ri
age,oratl
easti
sincor
por
atedandconsol
i
dat
edi
ntot
hatofhusband,underwhosewi
ngof
pr
otect
ionandcov
ersheper
for
msev
ery
thi
ng…Upont
hispr
inci
pleofuni
onofper
soni
nhusbandand
wi
fe,dependsal
mostal
lthel
egalr
ight
s,dut
iesanddi
sabi
l
iti
est
hatei
theroft
hem acqui
resbyt
he
mar
ri
age.
”Thi
srul
eisal
soexpr
essedbysay
ingt
hatt
hehusband’
sact
ualandt
hewi
fe’
slegal
domi
cil
ear
eone,wher
evert
hewi
femay
ber
esi
ding.Byav
ali
dmar
ri
age,t
hedomi
cil
eoft
hewi
fe
becomest
hatoft
hehusband,andt
hef
actt
hatmar
ri
edcoupl
eisl
i
vingapar
tundersepar
ate
agr
eement
,orahusbandhasdeser
tedt
hewi
fe,doesnotr
enderherf
reet
ochooseadomi
cil
eapar
t
f
rom hi
s.

n Lor
I dAdvocat
evJaf
f y3,oneMr
er s.Macki
nsonwasmar
ri
edonJune26,1876t
ooneRober
t
Macki
nsonwhowasbor
ninCampbel
town,Aber
deenandatt
het
imeofmar
ri
agewasaChi
ef
Quar
ter
mast
eri
ntheNav
y.Onr
eti
ri
ngf
rom t
heNav
yin1886t
il
l1893,hel
i
vedwi
thhi
swi
fei
n
Aber
deen.I
n1893,
owi
ngt
ohi
sdr
unkenanddi
ssi
pat
edhabi
ts,
itwasar
ranged;
att
hei
nst
anceofhi
s
wi
fet
hatMacki
nsonshoul
dleav
eScot
landf
orAust
ral
i
aandhi
spassageoutwaspai
dbyMr
s.
Macki
nson’
s mot
her
.He r
eached Sy
dneyand f
orsome t
ime r
emai
ned i
n New Sout
h Wal
es.
Somet
imesbef
ore,June1902,hewentt
oQueensl
andandr
esi
dedi
nBr
isbanewher
ehedi
edon
Januar
y1,
1918.OnJune2,
1902,
hewentt
hroughaf
orm ofbi
gamousmar
ri
agewi
thoneWi
l
lhemi
na,
wi
thwhom hel
i
vedunt
ilhi
sdeat
h,andf
rom whom hehadt
wochi
l
dren.Af
terhi
sdepar
tur
efr
om
Scot
land no communi
cat
ionpassed bet
weenhi
m and hi
swi
fe.I
n1915,Mr
s.Macki
nson,who
cont
inuedt
oli
vei
nAber
deen,
fil
edapet
it
ionf
ordi
vor
ceont
hegr
oundofherhusband’
sdeser
ti
onand
adul
ter
y.Twomai
nquest
ionsbef
oret
hecour
twer
e:

1
ReBeaumont
,(1893)3Ch490
2
(
1963),
P.259
3
(
1921)1A.C.146
 a)Whet
heratt
hedat
eofMr
s.Macki
nson’
spet
it
ion,
Rober
tMacki
nsonhadacqui
redadomi
cil
ein
Queensl
and,

b)I
fso,whet
herMr
s.Macki
nsonhadacqui
redader
ivat
ivedomi
cil
einQueensl
andbyv
irt
ueof
t
hemar
ri
aget
hensubsi
sti
ngbet
weent
hem.

Thet
ri
alcour
twasoft
heopi
niont
hatRober
tMacki
nsonacqui
redadomi
cil
einQueensl
and,
butt
hat
,
i
nthespeci
alci
rcumst
ancesoft
hecase,wi
fe’
sdomi
cil
eremai
nedScot
ti
sh;ont
hel
att
erpoi
ntt
he
f
ir
stappel
l
atecour
trev
ersedt
hej
udgment
.TheHouseofLor
dsaf
fi
rmedt
hej
udgmentoft
hef
ir
st
appel
l
atecour
t.Lor
dDunedi
n,pr
onounci
ngt
heopi
nionofHouseofLor
ds,quot
edt
hef
oll
owi
ng
passagef
rom t
heopi
nionofSi
rCr
esswel
linYel
ver
tonvYel
ver
ton4.“
Thedomi
cil
eoft
hehusbandi
s
t
hedomi
cil
eoft
hewi
fe;andev
ensupposi
nghi
mtohav
ebeengui
l
tyofsuchmi
sconductaswoul
d
f
urni
shherwi
thadef
enset
oasui
tbyhi
mforr
est
it
uti
onofconj
ugalr
ight
s,shecoul
dnotont
hat
gr
oundacqui
reanot
herdomi
cil
eforher
sel
f.
”

5
I
fthemar
ri
agei
svoi
d,t
hewi
fedoesnotacqui
ret
hedomi
cil
eofherhusband. Buti
fshegoest
o
6
anot
hercount
ryandl
i
veswi
thaput
ati
vehusband,
shemayacqui
readomi
cil
eofchoi
cet
her
e. Buti
f
t
hemar
ri
agei
svoi
dont
hegr
oundt
hatshewasal
readyawi
feofsomeone,
shecannotacqui
reanew
7
domi
cil
e.Thenherdomi
cil
ewi
l
lremai
nthatofherl
awf
ulhusband.

8
Ther
ulet
hatt
hewi
fe’
sdomi
cil
eist
aggedwi
tht
hatofherhusbandhasbeensev
erel
ycr
it
ici
zed. I
tis
ev
identt
hati
nourcont
empor
arywor
ldt
hisi
ssoci
all
ymostundesi
rabl
e.At
tempt
stor
oundofi
ts
shar
pestcor
ner
shav
ebeenst
atut
ory
.TheDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
alPr
oceedi
ngsAct
,1973hasnow
r
epeal
edt
heol
dpr
ovi
si
ons,andawi
fei
snowal
l
owedherownsepar
atedomi
cil
e.Newj
uri
sdi
cti
onal
r
uleshav
ebeenl
aiddown.Thust
heEngl
i
shl
aw hadgonemuchaheadoft
hesuggest
ionoft
he
Pr
ivat
eInt
ernat
ionalLaw Commi
tt
eet
hatawi
fewasl
i
vingsepar
atel
yunderadecr
eeofj
udi
cial
separ
ati
onshoul
dbeal
l
owedt
oacqui
reani
ndependentdomi
cil
e.

TheDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
alPr
oceedi
ngsAct
,1973makesf
undament
alchangesi
nthedomi
cil
eof
t
hewi
fe.Ther
uleofuni
tyofdomi
cil
eofhusbandandwi
fest
andsabol
i
shed.Theactl
aysdownt
hat
t
hewi
fedoesnotacqui
ret
hedomi
cil
eofherhusbandmer
elybyv
irt
ueofhermar
ri
age.Now her
domi
cil
eist
obeascer
tai
nedt
hesamewayast
hedomi
cil
eofani
ndependentper
soni
sascer
tai
ned.
Sect
ion1(
1)l
aysdown:“
…thedomi
cil
eofamar
ri
edwomanasatanyt
imeaf
tert
hecomi
ngi
nto
4
(1859)1S.W.&Tr .574.
5
WhiteVWhi te,
(1937),P.111;MehtaVMeht a,(1945)2All
.E. DeRenevi
R.690; l
levDeRenevi
l
le,
(1948)
,P.
100(
C.A)
.
6
VonLor angvAdm.OfAust r
ianPropert
y,(
1927)A.C.641
7
ShawvGoul d,(1868)L.R.3H.L.55.
8
Graveson,176-
77; Wol
ff,122;Cheshi
re,167.
f
orceoft
hesect
ionshal
l
,inst
eadofbei
ngsameasherhusband’
sbyv
irt
ueofonl
yifmar
ri
age,be
ascer
tai
nedbyr
efer
encet
othesamef
act
orsasi
nthecaseofanyot
heri
ndi
vi
dualcapabl
eofhav
ing
ani
ndependentdomi
cil
e.”TheActcamei
ntof
orceonJan11974.Awomanal
readymar
ri
edonJan1,
1974,
ret
ainsherhusband’
sdomi
cil
eofdependency(
butsher
etai
nsi
t,notasadependent
’sdomi
cil
e
butasofchoi
ceoror
igi
n),t
il
lsheacqui
resanot
herdomi
cil
e.Subsect
ion(
2)pr
ovi
des,“
Wher
e
i
mmedi
atel
ybef
oret
hissect
ioncamei
ntof
orce,awomanwasmar
ri
edandt
henhadherhusband’
s
domi
cil
ebydependence,
shei
stobet
reat
edasr
etai
ningt
hedomi
cil
ein(
asadomi
cil
eofchoi
ce,
ifi
t
i
snotal
soherdomi
ci
leofor
igi
n.)Unl
essandunt
ili
tischangedbyacqui
sit
ionorr
evi
valofanot
her
9
domi
cil
eei
theronoraf
tert
hecomi
ngi
ntof
orceoft
hissect
ion.
”

I
ntheUS,t
her
uleofuni
tyofdomi
cil
eofhusbandandwi
fei
snott
akent
othel
ogi
calendt
owhi
chi
t
wast
akeni
nEngl
i
shl
aw.Ther
e,awi
fel
i
vingsepar
atef
rom herhusband,
separ
ati
onnotamount
ingt
o
deser
ti
on,
canacqui
reherowni
ndependentdomi
cil
e;separ
ati
onmay
bebyagr
eementorbyadecr
ee
10
ofcour
t.

I
nIndi
anst
atut
oryl
awal
sodoesnotf
oll
owEngl
i
shl
aw.TheI
ndi
anSuccessi
onAct1925,ss.15and
ss.16i
ncor
por
atet
hegener
alr
ule:onmar
ri
aget
hewi
feacqui
rest
hedomi
cil
eofherhusbandand
dur
ingcov
ert
uresherdomi
cil
eist
hedomi
cil
eofherhusband.Theni
tisl
aiddownt
hatwi
fecan
acqui
reherowndomi
cil
eint
hef
oll
owi
ngcases:

1.I
fthewi
fel
i
vessepar
ateunderadecr
eeoft
hecour
t.

11
2.I
fthehusbandi
sunder
goi
ngal
i
fesent
ence.

I
ndi
ancour
tshav
ebeencal
l
edupont
odwel
li
nthemat
teri
nthesev
eraldi
ff
erentsi
tuat
ionsl
i
kei
nthe
caseofPr
em Pr
atapvJagatPr
atap12.Her
eitwashel
dthatt
hewi
fe’
sdomi
cil
eremai
nst
hatoft
he
13
husbandev
eni
fhedeser
tsher hecaseofRaniSaeedaKhaut
.Thenwast anvSt
ateofBi
har i
nthe
wakeofpar
ti
ti
on.Thewi
feofoneCapt
.KumarSi
nghdomi
cil
edi
nIndi
a,l
eftwi
thhermot
hert
o
Paki
stan.On14thMay1950shev
isi
tedI
ndi
aonaper
miti
ssuedbyt
heI
ndi
anCommi
ssi
oni
nPaki
stan.
On23rd Jul
y1950shewasser
vedwi
thanot
iceoft
heGov
ernmentofI
ndi
atoqui
tIndi
a.I
napet
it
ion
f
orawr
itofmandamusi
twasar
guedonbehal
foft
hewi
fet
hatshe,bei
ngt
hewi
feofI
ndi
an
domi
cil
edper
son,wasdomi
cil
edi
nIndi
aandt
hus,cannotbeaskedt
oqui
tIndi
a,si
ncebygoi
ngt
o

9
IRCVDichessofPort
land,(
1982)2W.L.
R.367.
10
Wil
li
am vOsent
on,232U.S.619.
11
R.Dol
phinvRobi
ns,(1859)7H.L.
C.390
12
1944Al
l97
13
1951Pat454
anot
hercount
ryorbyanyot
heractofhershecoul
dnot
,dur
inghermar
ri
age’
ssubsi
stenceacqui
re
anydomi
cil
eofherown.Herpl
eawasaccept
edbyt
hePat
naHi
ghcour
t.Subst
ant
ial
l
ytheAl
l
ahabad
Hi
ghcour
tal
soaccept
edt
hepl
eaoft
hewi
fe.Just
iceMal
l
ick,r
efer
ri
ngt
os.16,I
ndi
anSuccessi
on
Act
,1925sai
dthatdur
ingt
hesubsi
stenceofcov
ert
uresi
nthedomi
cil
eoft
hewi
fei
sthedomi
cil
eof
14
herhusband.

I
tisqui
teunf
ort
unat
etoobser
vet
hatt
hecour
tsi
nIndi
atendt
obl
i
ndl
yfol
l
owt
hei
rEngl
i
shcount
er-
par
ts,
iti
sli
ket
heper
suasi
vedeci
sionsar
eget
ti
ngmor
eimpor
tance.Ev
ent
houghEngl
i
shpr
ecedent
s
ar
ebei
ngqui
etl
yfol
l
owed,
Amer
icandeci
sionsar
en’
tgi
venmuchi
mpor
tance.Ourcour
tsshoul
dhav
e
atl
eastext
endedt
hepr
inci
pleofsepar
atedomi
cil
etot
hosecaseswher
ehusbandandwi
fear
eli
vi
ng
separ
ate,
ort
hehusbandhasdeser
tedt
hewi
fe.

MI
NORCHI
LDREN
Fort
hepur
poseofdomi
cil
ethemi
nor
it
yinI
ndi
anl
aw cont
inuest
il
laper
sonat
tai
nst
heageof
18y
ear
swhi
l
einEngl
i
shl
aw,unders.3oft
heDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
alPr
oceedi
ngsAct
,1973,
mi
nor
it
yter
minat
esont
heat
tai
nmentof16y
ear
s.

Domi
cil
eofnat
uralchi
l en:i
dr nrespectofnat
uralchi
l
dren’
sdomi
cil
e,t
heest
abl
i
shedr
ulesofpr
ivat
e
i
nter
nat
ional
lawar
e:

a)Thedomi
ci
leofal
egi
ti
mat
emi
norchi
l
dren,
ifpar
ent
shav
enotsepar
ateddur
ingmi
nor
it
y,

i
) I
sthedomi
cil
eoft
hef
atherasl
ongast
heast
hef
atheri
sal
i
veandi
tchangeswhen
wi
tht
hedomi
cil
eoft
hef
ather
,

i
i
) Af
tert
hedeat
hoft
hef
atheri
tist
hedomi
cil
eoft
hemot
hersol
ongast
hemot
heri
s
al
i
veandchangeswi
tht
hedomi
cil
eoft
hemot
her
;

b)Thedomi
ci
leofani
l
legi
ti
mat
echi
l
ddur
ingmi
nor
it
yist
hesameast
hatoft
hemot
herand
changeswi
tht
hedomi
cil
eoft
hemot
her
;

c)Thedomi
ci
leofami
noror
phancannotbechanged;
and

15
d)Whent
hemi
norat
tai
nsmaj
ori
tyhecanchangehi
sdomi
cil
e.

I
ndi
anl
awi
ssl
i
ght
lydi
ff
erentf
rom Engl
i
shl
awi
nthi
saspect
.Indi
anl
awr
ecogni
zest
hreeexcept
ions
whenmi
nor
’sdomi
ci
ledoesnotf
oll
owt
hatofhi
spar
ent
:

14
Smt
.Al
l
abandivUni
onofI
ndi
a,
1954Al
l
.457
15
Di
ceyandMor
ri
s,Rul
e12,
p.110;
Cheshi
re,
176
 a)I
fthemi
nori
smar
ri
ed,

b)I
fthemi
norhol
dsanyof
fi
ceorempl
oymenti
ntheser
viceofHerMaj
est
y,or

c)I
fthemi
norhassetup,
wit
htheconsentoft
hepar
ent
,anydi
sti
nctbusi
ness.

Bot
hEngl
i
shandI
ndi
anpr
ivat
eint
ernat
ionall
awachi
l
donat
tai
ningmaj
ori
tycanacqui
rehi
sown
domi
cil
e.16
Thi
spr
oposi
ti
oncamef
ori
nter
pret
ati nHnder
oni son17.
sonvHander

Adopt
edchi
l
dren:i
nEngl
i
shpr
ivat
eint
ernat
ionall
aw t
her
eisy
etnoaut
hor
it
yint
hedomi
cil
eof
adopt
edchi
l
d.ThePr
ivat
eInt
ernat
ionalLawCommi
tt
eesuggest
sthatt
her
ulei
nAmer
icashoul
d
bef
oll
owedi
.e.t
headopt
edchi
l
dshoul
dhav
ethedomi
cil
ethathi
sadopt
edpar
ent
shas.I
nIndi
an
l
aw,t
heaut
hor
it
ywasgi
venbyMadr
asHi
ghCour
tthatt
hedomi
cil
eoft
headopt
edchi
l
dist
he
domi
cil
eoft
headopt
ingpar
ent
sandchangewi
tht
hechangei
nthedomi
cil
eoft
headopt
ing
18
par
ent
s. Thequest
ioni
s:whatwi
l
lbet
hedomi
cil
eoft
headopt
edchi
l
d?Onmar
ri
aget
he
adopt
ivemot
heracqui
rest
hedomi
cil
eofherhusband.I
fthemot
herdoesnott
aket
hechi
l
dwi
th
her
,thent
hechi
l
dret
ainst
hedomi
cil
ethati
thadbef
oret
hemar
ri
ageofhi
smot
her
.Incaset
he
chi
l
dist
akencar
eofbyt
hest
epf
atherandgoest
oli
vewi
thhi
sadopt
edmot
herandst
epf
ather
,
domi
cil
eoft
headopt
edchi
l
dchangeswi
tht
hemot
her
.

Domi
cil
eofmi
norchi
ldaf
terdeat
hofpar s:I
ent nEngl
i
shpr
ivat
eint
ernat
ionall
awt
hedomi
cil
eofa
l
egi
ti
mat
echi
l
d,af
tert
hedeat
hoft
hef
atheri
sthedomi
cil
eoft
hemot
herandchangeswi
tht
he
domi
cil
eoft
hemot
her
,pr
ovi
dedt
hatt
hechi
l
disl
i
vingwi
thhi
smot
her
.Howev
ert
hischangeof
domi
cil
eisnotaut
omat
ic.Undert
heI
ndi
anl
awt
hedomi
cil
eoft
hel
egi
ti
mat
emi
norchi
l
disi
nthe
count
ryi
nwhi
chhi
sfat
herwasdomi
cil
edatt
het
imeofhi
sdeat
h.TheI
ndi
anl
aw doesnotsay
t
hatt
hedomi
ci
leoft
hechi
l
dwhosef
atheri
sdeadwi
l
lbet
hatofhi
smot
her
.Iti
sli
keI
ndi
anl
aw
f
ixest
hedomi
ci
leofal
egi
ti
mat
echi
l
dwi
tht
hatoft
hef
atherandt
hatofani
l
legi
ti
mat
echi
l
dwi
th
hi
smot
her
.Ift
hef
atherormot
herdi
est
hent
hedomi
cil
eoft
hechi
l
dremai
nst
hesameasi
twas
att
hedeat
hoft
hepar
ent
.

I
nourcont
empor
arywor
ldev
eryactofguar
dianshi
piswei
ghedont
hescal
esofwel
far
eof
chi
l
dren.I
tissubmi
tt
edt
hatt
her
uleshoul
dbet
hatt
hedomi
cil
eofanor
phanchi
l
dmaybe
changedbyhi
sguar
dianwi
tht
hepr
iorper
missi
onoft
hecour
tint
hecount
ryi
nwhi
cht
hechi
l
dis
domi
cil
edandf
urt
hert
hatnocour
twi
l
laccor
dsuchper
missi
onunl
essi
tcomest
otheconcl
usi
on
t
hatt
hechangewoul
dbef
ort
hewel
far
eoft
hechi
l
d.
16
Mi
chaelAnt
honyRodr
iguesvSt
ateofBombay,
1956Bom 729
17
(
1965)2W.L.
R.218
18
(
1929)30M.L.
W.691
 Domi
cil
eoft
hechi
ldwhent
hepar
ent
shavesepar
ated:I
fpar
ent
sar
eli
vi
ngsepar
atel
y,l
egal
l
yor
ot
her
wisehav
eobt
ainedadecr
eeofj
udi
cial
separ
ati
ont
hent
hequest
ionar
isesast
othedomi
cil
e
oft
hechi
l
d.Accor
dingt
otheDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
alAct
,1973t
hedomi
cil
eoft
hechi
l
d
cont
inuest
obet
hatoft
hef
atherunl
esst
hef
oll
owi
ngt
hingshappen:

a)Whent
hechi
l
disl
i
vingwi
thhi
smot
herandi
snotwi
thhi
sfat
her
,

b)I
fhehasacqui
redt
hedomi
cil
eofhi
smot
herbyv
irt
ueofhi
shav
ingl
i
vedwi
thher
,thenhewi
l
l
cont
inuet
ohav
ethatdomi
cil
e,ev
enwhenhel
eav
eshi
smot
her
,pr
ovi
dedhei
snotl
i
vingwi
th
hi
sfat
her
,and

c)Thechi
l
dwi
l
lcont
inuet
ohav
ehi
smot
her
’sdomi
cil
eev
enaf
tert
hedeat
hofhi
smot
her
,ifhe
hasacqui
redhi
smot
her
’sdomi
cil
ebyv
irt
ueofhi
shav
inghi
shomewi
thhi
smot
her
,andnot
wi
thhi
sfat
her
.

I
tisappar
entt
hati
nthet
wol
att
ercases,i
fthechi
l
dli
veswi
thhi
sfat
herandmakeshomewi
th
hi
m,t
hechi
l
dwi
l
lacqui
ret
hedomi
cil
eofhi
sfat
her
.Iti
stobenot
edt
hati
ncaseofsepar
ati
ont
he
chi
l
ddoesnotl
i
vewi
thhi
smot
her
,thenhecont
inuest
ohav
ethedomi
cil
eofhi
sfat
herev
eni
fhe
i
snotl
i
vingwi
thhi
sfat
herl
i
kel
i
vingwi
thsomer
elat
iveorl
ocalaut
hor
it
yorev
eni
fthesi
tuat
ioni
s
sucht
hatt
hef
atheri
snotknown.

I
ndi
anl
awhasnoanswert
osuchasi
tuat
ion.I
tissubmi
tt
edt
hatt
hechi
l
dwi
l
lhav
ethedomi
cil
eof
t
hepar
enti
nwhosecust
odyhei
sli
vi
ng,wi
therunderanor
deroft tordef
hecour act
o,andt
shoul
dbet
hatpar
entwhoshoul
dhav
ether
ightt
ochanget
hedomi
cil
eoft
hechi
l
d.I
ncaseof
di
sput
esbet
weenpar
ent
s,t
hei
nter
estoft
hechi
l
dist
hepar
amountconsi
der
ati
on.

Domi
cil
eofMar
ri
edMi
norChi
ld:
Bef
oreJanuar
y1,
1974,
theposi
ti
oni
nEngl
i
shl
awwast
hatami
nor
chi
l
donmar
ri
ager
etai
nedt
hedomi
cil
eofhi
sfat
herormot
her
,i.
e.,i
tsor
igi
naldomi
ci
leof
dependency
,whi
l
ethemi
norchi
l
dacqui
redt
hedomi
cil
eofherhusband.NowunderDomi
cil
eand
Mat
ri
moni
alAct
,1973,t
heposi
ti
oni
sthatami
norchi
l
dat
tai
nscapaci
tyt
oacqui
rei
ndependent
domi
cil
eonmar
ri
age,appl
yi
ngt
obot
hmal
esandf
emal
es.TheI
ndi
anl
aw i
sst
il
lst
uckt
othe
si
tuat
ionbef
oreJanuar
y1,
1974.Thedomi
cil
eofaf
emal
emi
noronhermar
ri
agechangesonher
19
mar
ri
aget
othedomi
cil
eofherhusband. I
tisseent
hati
fthehusbandi
smi
norandt
hus,hasa
domi
cil
eofdependencyofei
thert
hef
atherormot
her
,thent
hedomi
cil
eoft
hemi
normar
ri
ed
f
emal
echi
l
dwi
l
lbet
hesameast
hatofherhusbandandwi
l
lchangewi
tht
hechangei
nthe
domi
cil
eofherhusband.Ev
enwhenshebecomesawi
dowwhi
l
ebei
ngami
nor
,herdomi
cil
ewi
l
l

19
Sect
ion15,
Successi
onAct
,1925
 bet
hatofherhusbandhadwhenhedi
ed.Shecannotacqui
rebackherpr
e-mar
ri
agedomi
cil
eof
or
igi
n.Ev
enwhent
hemi
norwi
dowbecomesamaj
orshewoul
dcont
inuet
ohav
ethedomi
cil
eof
herdeadhusband,
unl
esssheacqui
resadomi
cil
eofherchoi
ce.

LUNATI
CS:
I
nEngl
i
shpr
ivat
eint
ernat
ionall
awt
her
eisnodi
rectaut
hor
it
yont
hedomi
cil
eofl
unat
ics.I
tseems
t
hatani
ndependentper
sonwhobecomesi
nsanecannotchangehi
sdomi
cil
e,ashei
sincapabl
e
ofexer
cisi
nghi
swi
l
l.I
tseemst
hatev
enhi
sguar
diancannotchangei
t.Thusi
tseemst
hatt
he
l
unat
icwi
l
lret
aint
hedomi
cil
ewhi
chhehadwhenhebecameal
unat
ic(
i.
e.whenhebegant
obe
20
l
egal
l
ytr
eat
edasi
nsane)ev
eni
fhegoest
oanot
hercount
ryandset
tl
est
her
e. I
nthemoder
n
Engl
i
shl
awl
unacyi
scat
egor
izedont
hebasi
sofdegr
eesofment
aldi
sor
der
.

I
tissubmi
tt
edt
hati
ftheyhav
esuf
fi
cientabi
l
ityt
ofor
mthenecessar
yint
ent
ion,t
heyshoul
dbe
abl
etochanget
hei
rdomi
cil
e.I
tisal
sosubmi
tt
edt
hatt
hosewhoar
ekeptunderguar
dianshi
p
shoul
dal
sobeabl
etoacqui
renewdomi
cil
e,i
fthei
rguar
dianshi
pthi
nksi
tispr
opert
odoso.The
guar
diancour
tort
hecour
tofpr
otect
ionshoul
dbeabl
etoaccor
dper
missi
ont
otheguar
diant
o
dosowhenev
eri
tist
houghtt
obei
nthei
nter
estoft
hechi
l
d.

I
nIndi
anl
awwehav
east
atut
orypr
ovi
sioni
ns.18,I
ndi
anSuccessi
onAct
,1925whi
chr
uns:“
An
i
nsaneper
soncannotacqui
reanewdomi
cil
einanyot
herwayt
hanbyhi
sdomi
cil
efol
l
owi
ngt
he
domi
cil
eofanot
herper
son.
”TheActdoesnotspeci
fywhot
his“
anot
herper
son”i
s.Buti
tseems
cl
eart
hati
fthel
unat
ici
sami
nort
heni
tist
hepar
entonwhom hei
sdependentandi
flunat
ici
sa
mar
ri
edwoman,t
heni
tisherhusband.I
tissubmi
tt
edt
hati
fthel
unat
ici
samaj
orandhasa
guar
dian,t
hent
his“
anot
herper
son”shoul
dbeguar
dianoft
hel
unat
ic.Ther
eisnor
easonwhy
I
ndi
ancour
tsshoul
dfol
l
owt
heol
dEngl
i
shdeci
si nUr
oni quhar
tvBut
ter
fi
eld21whi
chl
aysdownt
hat
amaj
orl
unat
ic’
sdomi
cil
eremai
nsst
ati
c,i
.e.
,itr
emai
nst
hesameasi
twasatt
het
imewhenhe
l
egal
l
ybegant
obet
reat
edasi
nsane.

DOMI
CILEOFMARRI
EDWOMAN

Theabol
it
ionofdependency
Unt
il1974t
her
ulewast
hatt
hedomi
cil
eofahusbandwascommuni
cat
edt
ohi
swi
fei
mmedi
atel
yon

20
Ur
quhar
tvBut
ter
fi
eld,
( Hepbur
1887)37Ch.D.357; nvSki
rvi
ng,
(1861)9W.
R.764
21
(
1887)37Ch.D.357
mar
ri
ageandi
twasnecessar
il
yandi
nev
itabl
yret
ainedbyherf
ort
hedur
ati
onofmar
ri
age.Thi
srul
e
wasmuchcr
it
ici
zedast
hel
astbar
bar
ousr
eli
cofawi
fe’
sser
vit
udeandwasabol
i
shedunderSect
ion
1oft
heDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
alPr
oceedi
ngsAct
.Thedomi
cil
eofamar
ri
edwomanatanyt
imeon
oraf
ter1Januar
y1974shal
linst
eadofbei
ngt
hesameasherhusband’
sbyv
irt
ueonl
yofmar
ri
age,
beascer
tai
nedbyr
efer
encet
othesamef
act
orsasi
nthecaseofanyot
heri
ndi
vi
dualcapabl
eof
hav
ingani
ndependentdomi
cil
e.Thi
smeanst
hatamar
ri
edwomani
stobet
reat
edascapabl
eof
acqui
ri
ng a separ
ate domi
cil
e;t
hough i
nvastmaj
ori
ty ofcases she and herhusband wi
l
l,
i
ndependent
lyacqui
ret
hesamedomi
cil
e.I
tis,
howev
erqui
tepossi
blef
orhappi
l
ymar
ri
edspousest
o
hav
esepar
atedomi
cil
esaswher
e,f
orexampl
e,ast
udentatanEngl
i
shuni
ver
sit
ywhoi
sdomi
cil
edi
n
NewYor
kmar
ri
esaf
ell
owst
udentdomi
cil
edi
nEngl
and,
bot
hint
endi
ngatt
heendoft
hei
rst
udi
est
o
goandl
i
vei
nNew Yor
k.The1973actal
sodeal
swi
tht
ransi
ti
onalpr
obl
emsoft
hedomi
ci
leof
dependenceofawi
feacqui
redbef
ore1974.Awomanmar
ri
edbef
ore1974whot
her
efor
eacqui
red
herhusband’
sdomi
ci
leonmar
ri
agei
stobet
reat
edasr
etai
ningt
hatdomi
cil
easadomi
cil
eofchoi
ce
i
fitwasnott
hewi
fe’
sowndomi
cil
eofor
igi
n,unt
ili
tschangedbyacqui
sit
ionofanewdomi
cil
eof
choi
ceorr
evi
valoft
hedomi
cil
eofor
igi
nonoraf
ter1stJanuar
y1974.Thi
smeantt
hataf
tert
hatdat
e,
t
hewi
fe’
sdomi
cil
eisnott
obet
reat
edasdependentonherhusbandbutasherowndomi
cil
eof
or
igi
n,orofchoi
ceunt
ilsheacqui
resanewdomi
cil
eofchoi
ceorunt
ilherdomi
cil
eofor
igi
nrev
ives.

DOMI
CILEANDNATI
ONALI
TYCONTRASTED
Nat
ional
i
tyr
epr
esent
saper
son’
spol
i
ticalst
atus,byv
irt
ueofwhi
chheowesal
l
egi
ancet
osome
par
ti
cul
arcount
ry;domi
cil
eindi
cat
eshi
sci
vi
lst
atusandi
tpr
ovi
dest
hel
aw bywhi
chhi
sper
sonal
r
ight
sandobl
i
gat
ionsar
edet
ermi
ned.Nat
ional
i
tydependsapar
tfr
om nat
ural
i
zat
ion,ont
hepl
aceof
bi
rt
horonpar
ent
age;
domi
cil
eisconst
it
utedbyr
esi
dencei
napar
ti
cul
arcount
rywi
tht
hei
ntent
ionof
r
esi
dingt
her
eper
manent
ly.I
tfol
l
owst
hataper
sonmaybeanat
ionalofonecount
rybutdomi
cil
edi
n
anot
her
.Atpr
esentmanycount
ri
esi
nEur
opeandSout
hAmer
icaadoptnat
ional
i
tyast
hecr
it
eri
onof
per
sonal
laws,
whi
l
stt
hecommonl
awj
uri
sdi
cti
onsoft
hecommonweal
thandt
heUSA,
amongot
her
s,
st
il
lst
andbyt
estofdomi
cil
e.

MERI
TSANDDEMERI
TSOFDOMI
CILE
TheEngl
i
shpr
efer
encef
ordomi
cil
eisbasedont
wogr
ounds.Fi
rstdomi
cil
emeanst
hecount
ryi
n
whi
chaper
sonhasest
abl
i
shedhi
sper
manenthomeandsecondl
ydomi
cil
efur
nishest
heonl
y
pr
act
icabl
etesti
ncaseofpol
i
ticaluni
tsasU.
K.Canada,Aust
ral
i
awher
ethesamenat
ional
i
ty
embr
acesanumberofdi
ver
sel
egalsy
stems.Theexpr
essi
onnat
ionall
aw i
smeani
ngl
esswhen
appl
i
edt
oaBr
it
ishnat
ionalbecausei
tisonesy
stem i
nEngl
andanot
heri
nScot
landsamei
sthecase
f
oraCanadi
an.Thel
awr
elat
edt
odomi
cil
ehascer
tai
nvi
ces.I
twi
l
lnoti
nfr
equent
lyhappent
hatt
he
l
egaldomi
cil
eofaper
soni
soutoft
ouchwi
thr
eal
i
ty,
forexagger
atedi
mpor
tanceat
tri
but
eddomi
cil
e
ofor
igi
n,coupl
edwi
tht
echni
caldoct
ri
neofr
evi
val
,maywel
lascr
ibet
oaper
sonadomi
cil
eint
he
count
rywhi
chbynost
ret
choft
hei
magi
nat
ioncanbecal
l
edhi
shome.Al
soequal
l
yir
rat
ionalr
esul
ts
mayensur
efr
om t
hev
iew,somet
imesi
nspi
redbyt
heEngl
i
shCour
tst
hatl
ongr
esi
dencei
snot
equi
val
entt
odomi
ci
lei
faccompani
edbyt
hecont
empl
ati
onofsomeuncer
tai
nev
entt
heoccur
rence
ofwhi
chwi
l
lcauseat
ermi
nat
ionofr
esi
dence.Thi
rdl
y,t
heascer
tai
nmentofaper
son’
sdomi
cil
eto
suchanext
entonpr
oofofhi
sint
ent
ion,t
hemostel
usi
veofal
lfact
ors,t
hatonl
ytooof
teni
twi
l
lbe
i
mpossi
blet
oident
if
yitwi
thcer
tai
ntywi
thoutr
ecour
set
ocour
ts.

DOMI
CILEOFORI
GINANDDOMI
CILEOFCHOI
CE

DOMI
CILEOFORI
GIN
I
tisawel
lknownpr
inci
plet
hatnoper
soncanbewi
thoutadomi
cil
e.Fort
hepr
act
ical
i
tyi
nappl
yi
ng
t
hisr
ulet
hel
awconf
ersadomi
cil
eonev
eryper
sononbi
rt
h.Thi
sisknownast
hedomi
cil
eofor
igi
n.
I
tcont
inuest
oexi
stasl
ongast
heconcer
nedper
sondoesnotacqui
reanot
herdomi
cil
e.Ev
eni
fa
per
sonwi
thav
iewt
oacqui
reanot
herdomi
cil
egi
vesuphi
sdomi
cil
eofor
igi
n,i
twi
l
lcont
inuet
oexi
st
asl
ongashedoesnotacqui
reanewdomi
cil
e.Themomentaper
songi
vesuphi
sdomi
cil
eofchoi
ce,
hi
sdomi
cil
eofor
igi
nrev
ives.Si
ncedomi
cil
eofor
igi
nisat
tr
ibut
edt
oev
eryper
sonatbi
rt
hby
oper
ati
onofl
aw,
thebasi
sofdomi
cil
eofor
igi
nispat
erni
tyormat
erni
ty.Accor
dingt
oEngl
i
shpr
ivat
e
i
nter
nat
ionall
awl
egi
ti
mat
echi
l
dbor
ndur
ingt
hel
i
fet
imeoff
atherhashi
sdomi
cil
eint
hecount
ryi
n
whi
chhi
sfat
herwasdomi
cil
ed.Al
egi
ti
mat
echi
l
dbor
naf
tert
hedeat
hoft
hef
atherhasdomi
cil
ein
t
hecount
ryi
nwhi
cht
hemot
herwasdomi
cil
edatt
het
imeofhi
sbi
rt
h.Ani
l
legi
ti
mat
echi
l
dhast
he
domi
cil
eint
hecount
ryi
nwhi
chhi
smot
herwasdomi
cil
edatt
het
imeofhi
sbi
rt
h.Thi
sisal
sot
he
posi
ti
oni
nIndi
anl
aw exceptt
hatt
hel
egi
ti
mat
echi
l
dbor
naf
tert
hedeat
hofhi
sfat
herhashi
s
domi
cil
eint
hecount
ryi
nwhi
cht
hef
atherwasdomi
cil
edatt
het
imeofhi
sdeat
h.Thust
hedomi
cil
e
ofor
igi
nisnotdependentupont
hepl
acewher
eachi
l
disbor
n,oront
hepl
acewher
eachi
l
disbor
n,
butont
hedomi
ci
leoft
hef
atherormot
her
,ast
hecasemaybe.Ther
eisonl
yoneexcept
iont
ohi
s
r
ule,
viz
;domi
ci
leoff
oundi
ngi
sthedomi
cil
eoft
hecount
ryi
nwhi
chhei
sfound.Domi
cil
eofor
igi
nis
acr
eat
ureofl
aw andnoper
soncangi
vei
tupt
otal
l
y.Ev
eryper
sonmusthav
eadomi
cil
eandt
he
domi
cil
eofor
igi
ncont
inuest
oexi
stt
il
laper
sonacqui
resanew domi
cil
e.Fort
her
evi
valoft
he
domi
cil
eofor
igi
niti
snecessar
ythatt
hedomi
cil
eofchoi
ceshoul
dbeabandonedv
olunt
ari
l
y.Anot
her
i
mpor
tantaspectoft
hedomi
cil
eofor
igi
nist
hati
taut
omat
ical
l
yrev
ivesbyoper
ati
onofl
awont
he
abandonmentoft
hedomi
cil
eofchoi
ce,what
evert
imemi
ghthav
eel
apsedaf
teri
tsabandonment
.
Thi
srul
eresul
tsi
nar
bit
rar
inessandi
njust
ice.TheI
ndi
anSuccessi
onAct
,Sect
ion13pr
ovi
des:
“Anew
domi
cil
econt
inuesunt
ilf
ormerdomi
cil
eishasbeenr
esumedoranot
herhasbeenacqui
red.Thus
underI
ndi
anl
awofdomi
cil
eofchoi
cecont
inuesunt
ilanewdomi
cil
eisacqui
redort
hedomi
cil
eof
or
igi
ni esumedami
sr noetf
act
o.I
ntheUni
tedSt
atesal
sot
her
ulei
sdi
ff
erent
;thepr
evi
ousdomi
cil
e,
whet
herofor
igi
norchoi
ce,
isr
etai
nedt
il
lanewonei
sacqui
red.

DOMI
CILEOFCHOI
CE
Anyi
ndependentper
sonmayacqui
readomi
cil
eofchoi
ce.Whet
heraper
sonhascapaci
tyt
oacqui
re
adomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
sdet
ermi
nedbyt
hel
aw ofhi
sexi
sti
ngdomi
cil
e.UnderEngl
i
shl
aw,bef
ore
comi
ngi
ntof
orceoft
heDomi
cil
eandMat
ri
moni
alPr
oceedi
ngsAct
,1973,ami
nor
,lunat
icand
mar
ri
edwomanhadnocapaci
tyt
oacqui
readomi
cil
eofchoi
ce,
whi
l
eundert
heI
ndi
anl
awamar
ri
ed
womancanacqui
readomi
cil
eofchoi
ceundercer
tai
nci
rcumst
ances.Fort
heacqui
sit
ionofdomi
cil
e
ofchoi
cet
hef
oll
owi
ngt
wocondi
ti
onsmustbesat
isf
ied1)Resi
dencei
nthecount
ryofdomi
ci
leof
choi
ce and 2)i
ntent
ion t
oli
vei
nthe count
ryofdomi
cil
e ofchoi
ce per
manent
ly.The I
ndi
an
Successi
onAct
,1925,Sect
ion10l
aydown,“
Amanacqui
resanew domi
cil
ebyt
aki
nguphi
sfi
xed
habi
tat
ioni
nacount
rywhi
chi
snott
hatofhi
sdomi
cil
eofor
igi
n”.I
ntent
ionmaypr
ecedet
he
r
esi
dence,
butt
hecoexi
stenceofi
ntent
ionandr
esi
dencei
sessent
ial
foracqui
ri
ngdomi
cil
eofchoi
ce.
Ther
esi
denceofaper
soni
sat
angi
blef
act
,fr
om whi
chi
ntent
ionmaybei
nfer
red,whi
l
eint
ent
ioni
s
ani
ntangi
blef
actwhi
chcanbegat
her
edf
rom cer
tai
nfact
sinwhi
chi
tismani
fest
ed.“
Resi
dence”i
s
anel
ast
ict
erm ofwhi
chnoexhaust
ivedef
ini
ti
oni
spossi
ble.I
tisdi
ff
erent
lyconst
ruedi
naccor
dance
wi
tht
hepur
poseandt
hecont
exti
nwhi
chi
tisused.Themeani
ngoft
het
erm andt
hesensei
nwhi
ch
i
tisusedar
econt
rol
l
edbyr
efer
encet
otheobj
ect
.InKumundvJot
indr h22 t
anat heCal
cut
taHi
gh
Cour
thel
dthatr
esi
dencemeansapl
acewher
eaper
soneat
s,dr
inksandsl
eeps,orwher
ehi
sfami
l
y
orser
vant
seat
,dr
inkandsl
eep.I
ntent
ioni
sanactofmi
ndandl
i
keot
herment
alf
act
sitcanbe
gat
her
edf
rom al
lev
ent
sandci
rcumst
ancesoft
hel
i
feofaper
son.Thei
ntent
ionmustbef
ixedand
notf
ickl
eandmustbedi
rect
edt
owar
dsonepar
ti
cul
arpl
aceorcount
ry.I
nthecaseofr
efugeest
hey
maygot
oanot
herf
orcenotv
olunt
ari
l
ybutduet
opr
essur
eofci
rcumst
ancesandl
atert
heymay
set
tl
edownt
her
e.“
Whati
sdi
ctat
edi
nthef
ir
sti
nst
ancemaybecomechoi
cei
nnexti
nst
ance”
.Int
hat
23
caset
heymayacqui
redomi
cil
eoft
hecount
ryofhi
sref
uge.I
ntheI ancaseofMandal.
ndi v.Mandal
t
woAust
ri
andomi
ci
ledper
sonswer
emar
ri
edi
nVi
ennai
n1936.I
n1939,
ont
hei
nvasi
onofAust
ri
aby
NaziGer
manyt
heyf
ledt
oIndi
a.Si
ncet
heyl
i
vedi
nIndi
aandhadnoi
ntent
ionofr
etur
ningt
oAust
ri
a.
Af
ull
benchoft
hePunj
abHi
ghCour
thel
dthatt
heyhadacqui
redadomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
nIndi
a.I
ncase
22
(
1911)38Cal.394
23
I
LR(1956)Punj.
215
off
ugi
ti
vest
her
eexi
stt
wo cat
egor
ies.Thosewho go t
o anot
hercount
ryt
o escapef
rom t
he
consequencesoft
hei
rcr
imeandt
hosewhoescapef
rom t
hei
rci
vi
lli
abi
l
iti
es.I
nsuchcasest
her
e
ar
isesani
nfer
encet
hatt
heyhav
eacqui
reddomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
nthenewcount
ryev
ent
hought
hei
r
depar
tur
ewasnotv
olunt
arybuti
tcanonl
ybeconf
ir
medwi
tht
hel
engt
hofst
ayoft
hef
ugi
ti
ve.
Si
mil
arl
yift
her
eisnopossi
bil
i
tyoff
ugi
ti
veescapi
ngpuni
shmenti
ncaseher
etur
nst
ohi
scount
ry,
t
heni
twoul
dbeanat
urali
nfer
encet
hathei
ntendedt
oacqui
reanew domi
cil
eofchoi
cei
nthe
count
rywhi
chhasgi
venhi
mref
uge.I
nthecaseofi
nval
i
dst
hosewhoper
manent
lyset
tl
edowni
n
anot
hercount
rybecauseofsui
tabi
l
ityofcl
i
mat
enat
ural
l
yacqui
resdomi
cil
eofchoi
cebutt
hosewho
got
oanot
hercount
ryf
orat
empor
aryst
aydoesnotacqui
redomi
cil
e.I
ncaseofpubl
i
cser
vant
sli
ke
Ambassador
s,consul
sthenat
urali
nfer
encei
sthatt
heydonotacqui
redomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
nsuch
count
ri
esbuti
fapubl
i
cser
vantcont
inuest
oli
vei
nthatcount
ryev
enaf
terhi
sdi
schar
gef
rom dut
ies
t
henhemayacqui
redomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
nthatcount
ry.

COMPARI
SONBETWEENDOMI
CILEOFORI
GINANDCHOI
CE
Thedomi
cil
eofor
igi
ncomesi
ntoexi
stencebyoper
ati
onofl
aw,i
ndependent
lyoft
hev
oli
ti
onofa
per
sonandev
eryper
songet
sitonbi
rt
h.Ont
heot
herhand,
thedomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
sadomi
cil
ewhi
ch
i
sacqui
redbyt
hef
reev
oli
ti
onoft
heper
sonconcer
ned.Fori
tsacqui
sit
iont
heexi
stenceofani
moet
f
act
oisnecessar
y.Ther
eisav
eryst
rongpr
esumpt
ioni
nfav
ouroft
hecont
inuanceoft
hedomi
cil
eof
or
igi
n.I
ncompar
isonwi
thdomi
cil
eofchoi
ce,domi
cil
eofor
igi
n,i
nthewor
dsofLor
dMacnaught
en
“
ismor
eendur
ing,i
tshol
disst
rongerandl
esseasi
l
yshakenof
f”.Domi
cil
eofor
igi
ncannotbe
abandonedeasi
l
y.Si
ncei
tisacr
eat
ureofl
awandnotoff
reewi
l
l,domi
cil
eofor
igi
ncannotbel
ostby
mer
eabandonment
.Unt
iladomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
sacqui
red,t
hedomi
cil
eofor
igi
ncont
inues.I
n
Bel
l
.vKennedy24 Bel
. l
,whohadhi
sdomi
cil
eofor
igi
ninJamai
ca,wi
thav
iewt
oacqui
readomi
cil
eof
choi
cei
nScot
landl
eftJamai
ca.Her
eachedScot
landandl
i
vedt
her
ewi
thhi
smot
her
-i
n-l
awandwas
l
ooki
ngf
oranest
atet
opur
chase.Yethehadnotf
ir
mlymadeuphi
smi
ndt
oset
tl
einScot
land.Then
hi
swi
fedi
ed.TheCour
thel
dthatt
il
lthenhehadnotl
osthi
sdomi
cil
eofor
igi
n.Ont
heot
herhand,
the
domi
cil
eofchoi
cei
slostbyt
hemomenti
tisabandoned.I
fanewdomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
snotacqui
red
t
hedomi
cil
eofor
igi
nrev
ives.Anot
herout
standi
ngf
eat
ureofdomi
cil
eofor
igi
nist
hati
tisnev
erl
ost
;
whenadomi
ci
leofchoi
cei
sacqui
red,i
tremai
nsi
nabey
ance.Assoonast
hedomi
cil
eofchoi
cei
s
abandonedorl
osti
timmedi
atel
yrev
ives,
eveni
fal
lcont
act
swi
tht
hecount
ryoft
hedomi
cil
eofor
igi
n
hav
ebeenl
ost
.

24
(
1868)L.
R1Sc&Di
v.307
CONCEPTSOFRESI
DENCE
Di
ssat
isf
act
ionwi
thnat
ional
i
tyasaconnect
ingf
act
orhasl
edt
oar
eal
i
zat
ionoft
hedef
ect
sof
domi
cil
eal
so.Thi
shassev
eralconsequences.Onehasbeenat
tempt
sinEngl
andt
oref
ormt
he
conceptofdomi
ci
le.Thef
ail
ure,
overmanyy
ear
stor
efor
m domi
cil
ehasl
ed,
iti
tst
urn,
toat
endency
t
orej
ecti
tasaconnect
ingf
act
ori
nfav
orofr
esi
dence.Oneoft
hemai
nfor
cesi
nthi
sdi
rect
ionhas
beent
hef
actt
hatt
heHagueConv
ent
ionshav
erel
i
edon“
habi
tualr
esi
dence”asaconnect
ingf
act
or.
TheRomeConv
ent
iononcont
ractchoi
ceofl
awal
sout
il
izest
hisconcept
,butnowi
nthecommer
cial
spher
e.Thewheelhasbeent
urnedf
ullci
rcl
easpur
elydomest
icl
egi
slat
ionhasal
so adopt
ed
“
habi
tualr
esi
dence”asamaj
orconnect
ingf
act
ori
nmat
ri
moni
alj
uri
sdi
cti
on.Nonet
hel
ess,al
though
habi
tualr
esi
dencei
sincr
easi
ngl
ybei
ngusedasanal
ter
nat
iveconnect
ingf
act
or,
itwoul
dbewr
ongt
o
i
nduceagener
alsubst
it
uti
onofhabi
tualr
esi
dencef
ordomi
cil
e.Fort
heconnect
ionbet
weenaper
son
andacount
rypr
ovi
dedbyhabi
tualr
esi
dencei
snotsuf
fi
cient
lyst
rongt
ojust
if
ythatper
sonsaf
fai
rs
al
way
sbei
ngdet
ermi
nedbyt
hel
awoft
hatcount
ry.

Or
dinar
yResi
dence
“
Ordi
nar
yResi
dence”hasbeenknownasaconnect
ingf
act
ori
nEngl
i
shl
awf
orsomet
ime.I
tusedt
o
f
ormabasi
sforser
viceofacl
aimf
orm outoft
hej
uri
sdi
cti
on;i
tusedt
obeabasi
sofj
uri
sdi
cti
oni
n
mat
ri
moni
alcausesi
nthecaseofapet
it
ioni
ngwi
fe;
itusedt
obeacr
it
eri
onf
orobt
aini
ngsecur
it
yfor
cost
s;i
tisasi
gni
fi
cantconnect
ingf
act
orf
ort
hepur
posesofi
mmi
grat
ionandsoci
alsecur
it
ylaw;
iti
s
ani
mpor
tantconnect
ingf
act
ori
ntaxat
ionst
atut
es;i
thasbeent
hecr
it
eri
onusedf
ordet
ermi
ning
el
i
gibi
l
ityf
oramandat
oryst
udentawar
dfr
om t
hel
ocalaut
hor
it
y;usedast
hebasi
sfordet
ermi
ning
whet
herast
udenti
sahomeorov
erseasst
udentf
ort
hepur
poseofpay
mentofuni
ver
sit
yfees,and
f
ordesi
gnat
ingt
hel
ocal
aut
hor
it
ytober
esponsi
blei
nacar
eor
der
.

Ther
eissomeaut
hor
it
yont
hemeani
ngof“
ordi
nar
yresi
dence”
,thoughi
tspr
eci
semeani
nghas
causeddi
ff
icul
ty.Onej
udgewentsof
arast
osayt
hatt
headj
ect
iveaddsnot
hingt
othenoun.Lor
d
Scar
mani
ngi
vi
ngt
hej
udgmentoft
heHouseofLor nShahvBar
dsi ough25,sai
netLondonBor dthat
t
hisadj
ect
ivebr
ingsoutt
woi
mpor
tantf
eat
uresofor
dinar
yresi
dence,namel
yresi
dencemustbe
adopt
edv
olunt
ari
l
y,i
.e.notbyv
irt
ueofki
dnappi
ngori
mpr
isonment
,andf
orset
tl
edpur
poses,whi
ch
cani
ncl
udef
ort
hepur
posesof“
educat
ion,busi
nessorpr
ofessi
on,empl
oyment
,heal
th,f
ami
l
yor
mer
elyl
oveoft
hepl
ace”
.Thewor
ds“
ordi
nar
yresi
dence”shoul
dbegi
vent
hei
rnat
uralandor
dinar
y
meani
ng,
andnotanar
ti
fi
ciall
egalconst
ruct
ion,
whi
chwi
l
lbet
hesamer
egar
dlessofcont
extunl
ess
i
tcanbeshownt
hatt
hest
atut
oryf
ramewor
krequi
resadi
ff
erentmeani
ng.

25
 
[1983]3Al
lER226
Or
dinar
yresi
dencedoesnotconnot
econt
inuousphy
sicalpr
esence,
butphy
sicalpr
esencewi
thsome
degr
eeofcont
inui
ty,
not
wit
hst
andi
ngoccasi
onalt
empor
aryabsences.I
tisaquest
ionofconst
ruct
ion
ofast
atut
ewhet
hert
hewor
d“l
awf
ul”shoul
dbei
mpl
i
edsoast
oqual
i
fyt
heor
dinar
yresi
dence.
Mor
eov
er,
itcanbear
guedt
hat
,asamat
terofgener
alpr
inci
ple,
aper
sonshoul
dnotbenef
itf
rom hi
s
ownunl
awf
ulconduct
.

Eachcasemust
,ofcour
se,dependoni
tsownpecul
i
arf
act
sbutt
heaut
hor
it
iesshow t
hatev
en
absencef
oraconsi
der
abl
eti
mewi
l
lnott
ermi
nat
eaper
son’
sor
dinar
yresi
dencei
fiti
sduet
osome
speci
fi
candunusualcause.Agai
n,t
hesi
gni
fi
canceofacompar
ati
vel
ypr
olongedabsencewi
l
lbe
weakenedi
f,dur
ingt
her
elev
antper
i hepr
od,t oposi
tushasmai
ntai
nedahouseorf
lati
nEngl
and
r
eadyf
ori
mmedi
ateoccupat
ion.

Habi
tualResi
dence
Thecour
tshav
erepeat
edl
yfol
l
owedt
hej
udgmentofLor
dScar nRvBar
mani netLondonBor
ough
Counci
l
,expShah26,
hol
dingt
hatt
her
eisnodi
ff
erencei
npr
inci
plebet
weent
het
radi
ti
onal
conceptof
or
dinar
yresi
denceandt
hemor
efashi
onabl
econceptofhabi
tual
resi
denceandt
hatt
heybot
href
ert
o
aper
son’
sabodei
napar
ti
cul
arpl
aceorcount
rywhi
chhehasadopt
edv
olunt
ari
l
yandf
orset
tl
ed
pur
posesaspar
toft
her
egul
aror
derofhi
sli
fef
ort
het
imebei
ng,
whet
herofshor
torofl
ongdur
ati
on.
Habi
tualr
esi
dencei
saconceptwi
thoutt
hev
ari
ousl
egalar
ti
fi
cial
i
tiesofdomi
cil
e,suchast
he
doct
ri
neofr
evi
val
andanal
ogi
eswi
tht
hatconceptar
enotappr
opr
iat
e.

Resi
dence
Bef
oreachi
l
doradul
tcanbehabi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nacount
ryhemustber
esi
dentt
her
e.Thi
sdoesnot
necessar
il
yrequi
rephy
sicalpr
esenceatal
lti
mes.Tempor
aryabsence,f
orexampl
eonhol
i
dayorf
or
educat
ionalpur
posesorf
oranat
temptt
oef
fectr
econci
l
iat
ionwi
thanest
rangedspousewi
l
lnot
br
inganendt
ohabi
tualr
esi
dence.I
ndeed,
itcancont
inuedespi
teconsi
der
abl
eper
iodsofabsence.A
habi
tualr
esi
dencei
nEngl
andhasbeenhel
dtocont
inuedespi
teaper
iodofsomet
woy
ear
sni
ne
mont
hsr
esi
dingi
nHongKong.Howev
er,
iti
saquest
ionofst
atut
oryconst
ruct
ionwhet
hert
hewor
ld
“
lawf
ull
y”shoul
dbei
mpl
i
edi
ntoast
atut
orypr
ovi
sionwhi
chusest
heconceptofhabi
tualr
esi
dence.
I
ndeed,i
tisonl
yri
ghtt
hatper
sonswi
thl
ongst
andi
ngl
i
nkswi
thEngl
andshoul
dhav
ethei
rper
sonal
af
fai
rsdeal
twi
thi
nEngl
andandsubj
ectt
oEngl
i
shLaw.

APer
iodofTi
me
Thef
ormul
ati nReJ(
oni Ami
nor
)(Abduct
ion:cust
odyr
ight
s)r
equi
ri
ngr
esi
dencef
oranappr
eci
abl
e
per
iodoft
ime,hasbeenf
oll
owedi
nnumer
ouscases.Howev
er,mor
erecent
lyt
heHouseofLor
dsi
n
26
 
[1982]Q.
B.688
 27
NessavChei
fAdj
udi
cat
ionOf
fi
cer hasadopt
edr
atherdi
ff
erentwor
ding.Lor
dSl
ynnsai
dthat
,asa
mat
terofor
dinar
ylanguage,
aper
soni
snothabi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nanycount
ryunl
esst
hatper
sonhas
t
akenupr
esi
denceandl
i
vedt
her
eforaper
iodwhi
chshowst
hatt
her
esi
dencehasbecome“
habi
tual
”
andwi
l
lori
sli
kel
ytocont
inuet
obehabi
tual
.Itf
oll
owst
hatt
her
emaybeagapbet
weenhabi
tual
r
esi
dencei
nonest
ateandacqui
sit
ionofhabi
tualr
esi
dencei
nanot
her
.A per
sonmayhav
eno
habi
tualr
esi
denceatal
l
.Howev
er,i
tmaybet
hatf
ort
hepur
posesofmaki
ngapar
ti
cul
arl
egi
sl
ati
on
ef
fect
ive,anexampl
ebei
ngt
hef
oundi
ngofj
uri
sdi
cti
on,i
tmaybenecessar
ythataper
soni
s
habi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nsomest
ate.I
not
herwor
ds,
ther
ewoul
dnotbeagap.

I
tisaquest
ionoff
actwhet
herandwhent
her
equi
sit
ehabi
tualr
esi
dencehasbeenest
abl
i
shed.Thi
s
dependsv
erymuchont
heci
rcumst
ancesoft
hepar
ti
cul nVv
arcase.I .B(
Ami
nor
)(Abduct
ion)an
habi
tualr
esi
dencewasacqui
redaf
terl
esst
hant
hreemont
hs’r
esi
dencei
nAust
ral
i
a,t
hepar
ti
es
accor
dingt
othepl
aint
if
f,hav
ingdeci
dedt
oset
tl
ether
e.

Aset
tl
edi
ntent
ion
Ther
emustbeadegr
eeofset
tl
edi
ntent
ionorpur
pose.Thi
sisnotconcer
nedwi
thbei
ngset
tl
edi
na
count
ry.Ther
eisnoneedt
oshow aper
soni
ntendedt
ost
ayt
her
eper
manent
lyori
ndef
ini
tel
y.The
set
tl
edi
ntent
ioncanbef
oral
i
mit
edper
iod,aper
iodl
i
mit
edbyt
hei
mmedi
atepur
posesuchas
empl
oyment
,ev
enshor
t-
ter
m empl
oymentofnomor
ethansi
xmont
hs.Thusaper
soncanbe
habi
tual
l
yresi
dencei
nacount
ryev
ent
houghhei
ntendsatsomef
utur
edat
etomov
etoanot
her
count
ry nWat
.I eson28 t
sonvJami her
ewasaset
tl
edpur
posewher
echi
l
drenwentt
oli
vewi
tht
hei
r
f
atheri
nScot
landf
ort
woy
ear
s,t
heunder
standi
ngbet
weenhesepar
atedpar
ent
sfr
om t
heout
set
bei
ngt
hatt
hechi
l
drenwoul
dthengot
oli
vewi
tht
hei
rmot
her
,whol
i
vedi
nNewZeal
andf
ort
woy
ear
s.
Thechi
l
drenwer
ehel
dtobehabi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nScot
land.

Thel
ongert
heper
iodofr
esi
dence,t
heeasi
eri nM vM (
tbecomes.Thusi Abduct
ion:Engl
andand
Scot
land)i
twascl
ear
lyi
mpor
tanti
nfi
ndi
ngt
hisset
tl
edpur
poset
hatt
hepar
ti
eshadact
ual
l
ybeen
l
i
vingi
nScot
landf
orasl
ongaper
iodast
woy
ear
s.I
nthesecasesi
nvol
vi
ngaper
iodofshor
t
r
esi
dence,t
her
esi
dencewasf
orat
empor
arypur
poseandt
hiswasf
atalt
otheacqui
sit
ionofa
habi
tualr
esi
dence.Wheni
tcomest
oest
abl
i
shi
ngani
ntent
iont
oset
tl
e,t
hiswasshowni
nonecases
byt
hef
act
,int
eral
i
a,t
hatt
hef
ami
l
yfur
nit
urewassentt
othatcount
ry.

Vol
unt
ari
ly
Ther
eisaf
urt
herr
equi
rementi
nrel
ati
ont
oadul
tst
hatt
her
esi
dencemusthav
ebeenv
olunt
ary
.A

27
 
[1999]1WLR1937
28
 
1998SLT180
ser
vicemanwhoi
sst
ati
onedonabaseabr
oadcanber
egar
dedasv
olunt
ari
l
yresi
denti
nthatcount
ry
(
hecoul
dhav
elef
tthear
medf
orcesi
fhedi
dnotwantt
oacceptt
hepost
ing)and,hav
ingmadet
he
f
ami
l
yhomet
her
e,heandhi
sfami
l
ywi
l
ltaket
hiscount
ryast
hei
rhabi
tual
resi
dence.

Abandonment
Aper
soncanceaset
obehabi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nacount
ryi
nasi
ngl
edayi
fheorshel
eav
esi
twi
tha
set
tl
edi
ntent
ionnott
oret
urni
tbutt
otakeupl
ongt
ermr
esi
dencei
nanot
hercount
ryi
nst
ead.For
exampl nMor
e,i anvMor
ant
hepar
ent
s,whower
ehabi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nCal
i
for
nia,agr
eedt
hatt
he
mot
herandchi
l
dshoul
dret
urnt
oScot
landf
oray
ear
,whi
l
stt
hef
atherr
emai
nedi
nCal
i
for
niat
odeal
wi
thbusi
nesspr
obl
ems.I
twashel
dthatt
hechi
l
d’shabi
tualr
esi
denceceasedasf
rom t
hedat
eof
depar
tur
efr
om Cal
i
for
nia.The abandonmentofa habi
tualr
esi
dence can t
ake pl
ace wi
thout
acqui
sit
ionofanot
herhabi
tualr
esi
dencesomewher
eel
se,
wit
hthei
nev
itabl
eresul
tthataper
sonhas
nohabi
tualr
esi
dence.Mor
eov
er,
becauseanhabi
tualr
esi
dencecanbeabandonedi
nonedaybutnot
acqui
redunt
ilt
her
ehasbeenr
esi
dencef
oraper
iodshowi
ngt
hatr
esi
dencehasbecomehabi
tual
,thi
s
gapwhent
her
eisnohabi
tualr
esi
dencewi
l
lcor
respondi
ngl
ylastf
ort
hatper
iod.I
thasev
enbeen
accept
edt
hat
,except
ional
l
y,f
ort
hepur
posesofmaki
ngpar
ti
cul
arl
egi
slat
ionef
fect
ive,i
tmaybe
necessar
ytoensur
ethatt
her
eisnogap.

Chi
ldr
en
Thehabi
tualr
esi
denceofachi
l
disnotf
ixedbutmaychangeaccor
dingt
otheci
rcumst
anceoft
he
par
entorot
herpr
inci
palcar
eerwi
thwhom t
hechi
l
dli
vesandwhoi
slawf
ull
yexer
cisi
ngr
ight
sof
cust
ody
.Ift
hepar
ent
sar
eli
vi
ngt
oget
herandt
hechi
l
disl
i
vingwi
tht
hem i
twi
l
ltaket
hepar
ent
s
habi
tual
resi
dence.Ther
eisapr
obl
em i
fthechi
l
disbor
nabr
oadwhi
l
stonhol
i
dayt
opar
ent
’shabi
tual
r
esi
denti
nEngl
and.I
thasbeensai
d,obi
ter
,thati
ntheseci
rcumst
ancesi
tispossi
blef
ort
hechi
l
dto
t
akeahabi
tualr
esi
dencei
nEngl
andf
rom Bi
rt
h.I
fbot
hpar
ent
shav
ejoi
ntpar
ent
alr
esponsi
bil
i
ty,
nei
therpar
entcanuni
l
ater
all
ychanget
hechi
l
d’shabi
tualr
esi
dencebyr
emov
ingorr
etai
ningi
t
wr
ongf
ull
yandi
nbr
eachoft
heot
herpar
ty’
sri
ght
s.Bot
hpar
ent
smustconsentt
othechangeof
habi
tualr
esi
dence.I
ntheunusualsi
tuat
ionwher
eamar
ri
edcoupl
eli
vedwi
tht
hechi
l
dren,andy
et
eachpar
enthadadi
ff
erenthabi
tualr
esi
dence,t
hehabi
tualr
esi
denceoft
hechi
l
drencoul
donl
y
changei
fthepar
ent
shadacommoni
ntent
iont
ochanget
hei
rresi
dence.

I
tfol
l
owst
hatbef
oreachi
l
dcanbehabi
tual
l
yresi
denti
nacount
ryi
tmustber
esi
dentt
her
e.Thusf
or
achi
l
d’shabi
tualr
esi
dencet
ochanget
othatofanot
hercount
ryt
hechi
l
dhast
oleav
ethecount
ryi
n
whi
chhei
sresi
dentandr
esi
dei
nthatot
hercount
ry.I
fonepar
enthassol
elawf
ulcust
odyf
ort
he
chi
l
d,hi
ssi
tuat
ionwi
thr
egar
dtohabi
tualr
esi
denceshal
lbet
hesameast
hatoft
hispar
ent
s.
Accor
dingt
otheCour
tofAppeal
,inReM (
Minor
s)(
Resi
denceOr
der
:Jur
isdi
cti
on)al
awf
ulcust
ody
r
efer
stot
hechi
l
dbei
ngi
nthephy
sicalcar
eoft
hatpar
ent
.Ifachi
l
dhasbeenmadeawar
doft
he
cour
t,apar
entcannott
henchangei
tshabi
tualr
esi
dencewi
thoutl
eav
eoft
hecour
t.I
tisnotcl
earat
whatageaper
sonceasest
obeachi
l
dfort
hepur
posesofhabi
tualr
esi
dencebuti
tisl
i
kel
ythatt
his
i
sat16.Aswi
thanadul
t,achi
l
dmayhav
enohabi
tual
resi
dence.

REFORMS
At
tempt
sint
he1950sand1960satt
hewhol
esal
eref
orm oft
hel
awofdomi
cil
ewer
eunsuccessf
ul
because t
hey wer
ethoughtt
o be t
oo r
adi
cal
.Mor
erecent
ly,t
he Engl
i
sh and Scot
ti
sh Law
Commi
ssi
onsputf
orwar
dinaj
oinRepor
tasetofpr
oposal
sforr
efor
m oft
hemaj
orr
uleswhi
ch,at
l
eastasr
egar
dst
heeaseofchangeofdomi
cil
ewer
emor
econser
vat
ive.

TheLaw Commi
ssi
onst
art
edof
font
hebasi
sthati
tshoul
dbeal
i
ttl
eeasi
ert
oacqui
reanew
domi
cil
e.Toachi
evet
his,i
twaspr
oposedt
hatt
hest
andar
dofpr
oofi
nal
lacqui
sit
ioncasesshoul
d
bet
henor
malci
vi
lst
andar
d,andt
hati
tshoul
dbesuf
fi
ci
entt
oshowt
hataper
soni
ntendedt
oset
tl
e
i
nthecount
ryi
nquest
ionf
orani
ndef
ini
teper
iod.Wheni
tcomest
odomi
cil
eissuesot
hert
hant
hatof
easeofchangeofdomi
cil
e,abol
derl
i
newast
akenwhi
chwoul
dhav
eledt
omaj
ori
mpr
ovement
sin
t
hel
aw.

Thedomi
cil
esofor
igi
n,choi
ceanddependencywoul
dhav
ebeenabol
i
shed,t
ober
epl
acedbya
domi
cil
eforchi
l
drenandadomi
cil
eforadul
ts.Thi
swoul
dhav
egr
eat
lysi
mpl
i
fiedt
hel
aw.Nospeci
al
t
enaci
tywoul
dhav
ebeengi
vent
othedomi
cil
erecei
vedatbi
rt
handt
hedoct
ri
neofr
evi
valwoul
d
hav
ebeenr
epl
acedbyar
ulet
hatanadul
t’
sdomi
cil
ewoul
dcont
inueunt
ilanot
herdomi
cil
ewas
obt
ained.Al
linl
aw,t
heLaw Commi
ssi
ons’pr
oposal
srepr
esent
ed“
afur
theri
mpor
tantst
epi
nthe
pr
ocessofi
mpr
ovi
ngt
hest
ruct
ure,ef
fect
ivenessandf
air
nessoft
her
ulesofdomi
cil
e”,andwer
e
suppor
tedbyt
hej
udgesoft
heFami
l
yDi
vi
sion.I
nScot
land,t
hel
aw i
nrel
ati
ont
othedomi
cil
eof
per
sonsunder16hasbeenr
efor
med.I
nfl
uenced,
atl
easti
npar
t,byt
heLawCommi
ssi
ons’
proposal
s,
Scot
slawpr
ovi
dest
hatwer
ethepar
ent
sar
edomi
cil
edi
nthesamecount
ryandt
hechi
l
dhasahome
wi
thapar
entorwi
thbot
hoft
hem,
thechi
l
disdomi
cil
edi
nthesamecount
ryasi
tspar
ent
s.

BI
BIOGRAPGHY
 Set
alv
ad,
Atul
M.,
Conf
li
ctofLaws,
2ndedn.
,Lexi
sNexi
sBut
ter
wor
thsWadhwa,
Nagpur
,2009,
p.
397.

 Fawcet
t,Jameset
al.
,Cheshi
reandNor
th‟
sPr
ivat
eInt
ernat
ionalLaw,14t
hedi
ti
on,Oxf
ord
Uni
ver
sit
yPr
ess,
NewDel
hi,
2008,
p.1141-
2.

 Cheshi
re,Nor
th&Fawcet
t,Pr
ivat
eInt
ernat
ionalLaw,14t
hedn.P.1149c.
f.Set
alv
ad,At
ulM.
,
Conf
li
ctofLaws,
2ndedn.
,Lexi
sNexi
sBut
ter
wor
thsWadhwa,
Nagpur
,2009.

 Mul
l
a‟spr
inci
plesofMahomedanLaw,
19t
hedn.
,p.81and99.

 TheHumanFer
ti
li
sat
ionandEmbr
yol
ogyAct
,1990