Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify When You Move

The truck is booked and the boxes are packed, but your mail, your bills and half a dozen accounts still think you live somewhere else. A missed address change can mean lost statements, a delayed package or a card sent to the wrong house. This checklist covers who to notify when you move and when to do it, so nothing slips through.

Start With the Post Office

File your change of address with the U.S. Postal Service first, because it forwards most of your mail while everything else catches up. You can do it online at the official USPS site, and a permanent change forwards mail for up to 12 months. Use only the official site: look-alike services exist, and they charge extra for something the post office offers directly. Set the start date a few days before your move so nothing is missed while you are in transit.

Money and Bills

These are the ones that cause real trouble when they go missing, so tackle them in the first week:

• Banks, credit unions and credit card companies
• Loans, mortgage servicer and student loan providers
• Auto, home or renters, and health insurance
• Investment and retirement accounts
• Utilities, internet and phone, which you will usually close or transfer rather than just update. Our Charleston utility setup checklist covers water, power and internet for your new address.

Government and Legal

• Driver's license and vehicle registration. Update both with your state's DMV, and check how long you have to do it, since the window varies.
• Voter registration. Re-register at the new address so you receive the correct ballot.
• The IRS. File Form 8822 or note your new address on your next return.
• Social Security. Update your address through your online account.
• Local records. Property tax or vehicle tax offices, if you own a home or car.

Work, Health and School

• Your employer. Update payroll and HR so tax forms like your W-2 reach you.
• Doctors, dentists and pharmacies. Update your address and transfer prescriptions if you are changing providers.
• Schools and childcare. Notify them and request records if your children are changing schools.
• Veterinarian and pet registration. Update the microchip registry and any local license.

Subscriptions, Shopping and People

This is the part people forget, and it is where packages end up on the old porch. Update your address with:

• Online shopping accounts and saved shipping addresses
• Subscription boxes, magazines and meal kits
• Streaming and app accounts with billing addresses
• Loyalty programs, memberships and gyms
• Friends, family and anyone who sends you cards or invitations

A Simple Timeline

• Four weeks out: start your list and make a note of every account that sends you mail. Our 30-day moving checklist fits in alongside this one.
• Two weeks out: schedule the USPS change and notify banks, insurers and your employer.
• Moving week: confirm utilities, update subscriptions and shopping accounts.
• First two weeks in the new home: update the DMV, voter registration and government records, then check your mail for anything still going to the old address.

Don't Forget the Move Itself

While you are updating addresses, it is also the right time to confirm the details of the move. A local move still needs a confirmed date, an arrival window and clear access at both addresses, and a written estimate keeps the price from changing on the day. If you would like a hand, you can get in touch with our team for a free quote.

Most addresses can be changed in an afternoon once you have the list in front of you. For help with the part that takes more than an afternoon, residential moving from Saltwater Moving covers the packing, loading and unloading, so you can focus on getting everything else updated.