Residency is where one chooses to live. Domicile is more permanent and is essentially somebody's home base.A residence is a place of some permanency, while a domicile is a true, fixed permanent home to which an individual intends to return after an absence. The term "domicile" has a special legal definition that is not the same as residence. Domicile refers to the place you call home permanently. Your domicile is important for legal purposes such as paying taxes, voting, and claiming benefits. When evaluating the residency requirement for a divorce in California, the key word is "domicile.