You will need to file the Declaration with the Clerk and Recorder's Office in the county where the homestead is located. Need More Information?It involves completing a form and submitting it to the county recorder's office. To the professionals at my local Clerk and Recorder's Office,. First and foremost you must complete a statespecific homestead declaration. This legally protects you from many little-known situations. To qualify, you must live in the home as your primary residence. The dwelling may be a house, condominium, or mobile home. A homestead exemption can block the forced sale of a primary residence and provide tax relief for surviving spouses. To qualify, you must live in the home as your primary residence.