[Hedwig]

There's a difference between residency and domicile. Residency is the state where you legally reside, and are only away from the state because of military duty. Your domicile is where you actually live.

Your legal residence will remain Alabama until you decide to change it, or until you leave the military, at which point the Soldier's and Sailor's Civil Relief Act no longer protects you. So, when you move to NC you will become domiciled in NC.

Here's the kicker--this only applies to you, not your wife. I can tell you that in NC, any vehicles will need to be in your name only to legally keep the Alabama registration. Your wife can become a resident of Alabama and get an Alabama Driver's License, or she can become a NC resident. She won't remain an Ohio resident.

That's good and bad. If she's on the credit cards, and she lived in Ohio when you married, she's still an Ohio resident, and I don't know how that will affect the move. If she isn't on the debt, once you leave domicile in Ohio, the Ohio laws shouldn't apply.

Yes, the JAG office will maintain an attorney-client confidentiality, but they can't help you in all civil matters. They can, however, give you advice on such things as residency and possibly some advice on the credit issues. But remember that they are not civilian attorneys and may not know all the ins and outs of the state laws.

Unless things have changed a lot, what I've told you about NC applied to military and spouses when I was there.

I still think your best bet is to check with JAG. If they can't help you, they'll direct you to someone who can.

Good luck!!