Moving and Need to Change Your Address? Use This Address Change Checklist!

It is often said that the stress levels surrounding relocation hit higher than those for a serious illness, a divorce, or the death of a hamster.

Well, we’ve said it, anyway.

Part of that sublime unrest comes from having to change your address with every state agency, utility company, bank, and old buddy you’ve ever had.

(The other part of it comes from boxing up every single thing you own and hauling it on and back off of a rented truck.)

So, while it’s not the most labor intensive element to a big move, it might help to follow a change of address checklist – especially if you are moving into a new state.

Oh look, there’s one right down there.

The Handy-Dandy Change Your Address Checklist

Post Office

When it comes time to change your address and get all of those crucial magazine subscriptions of yours forwarded to your new address, the post office makes it fairly easy on you with their simple Official Postal Service Change of Address (and a small fee).

Other Government Agencies

Depending on your level of involvement with them, there are a handful of other government agencies you should consider reporting to with your new address (don’t hold your breath for a housewarming gift, though).

These include the:

• Social Security Administration: Helpful if they are sending you check every month.
• Department of Veterans Affairs: Again, a smart move if they send part of your monthly income.
• Internal Revenue Service: Might as well let them know you’ve moved, as they will find out anyway.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services: Important if you are a non-citizen who needs to register with USCIS.

Utilities

Do you like cooking in a warm house with the television or radio making noise in the background? Better not forget to report to your electric and gas providers with that new address. This also helps prevent the new resident at your old domicile from racking up bills in your name.

Banks

If you are a human and it is 2012, banks and your money are probably interchangeable. Things will be less difficult for you if you tell every bank you do business with where you are going to be.

The DMV, of Course!

We are all here because we love the DMV, right? Well don’t forget to let your best buds at the Department of Motor Vehicles in your new neck of the woods know that you are a friendly new neighbor. We can help you find your local DMV, too!

Also remember:

• Many states require new residents to complete a separate address change form for vehicle registration.
• Most states require that you get a new driver license and register your vehicle in your new home within a certain period of time (90 days in Texas, for example)

Did we miss anyone? Who else should you notify of your change of address?