Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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DOMICILE

Permanent habitation in the eyes of the law, by which a person accepts certain responsibilities and has specified rights. to acquire domicile, one must actually take up residence in a given place with the intention of permanently living there or actually living there for ten years. Domiciles can be maintained in two place, e.g., summer and winter residences. A wife's domicile is that of her husband; a child's that of its parents legal guardians; an ecclesiastically separated wife may maintain her own. If not ecclesiastically separated, she can have only a quasi-domicile. Temporary absence, no matter how long, does not result in loss of domicile privileges. domicile entitles a person to ministrations from the pastor of a parish and the bishop of that diocese, to both of whom he owes spiritual obedience. By domicile one acquires a proper parish and a proper diocese. (Etym. Latin domicilium, abode, dwelling; from domus, house.)