A Checklist for Moving With Your Loved One
In the event that you and your loved one need to relocate, or you need to move your loved one to a new home, making sure everyone is aware of your new address can be stressful. The process can be overwhelming, particularly when you consider all the entities that need to be notified. However, being proactive and utilizing checklists can help minimize that stress and ensure the various services and systems remain smoothly operating.
Here is a list to help guide you.
The United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPS is the first place to start, as they will forward any mail addressed to a former address for up to a year, which will save you a lot of frustration. The information at https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Change-of-Address-The-Basics will give you an overall guide. You can pick up a Mover’s Guide packet from your local Post Office and change an address for free, or you can change an address online for a small fee ($1.10 for identity validation). Make sure you do the change of address at least a week prior to the move. Also, remember that the USPS will only forward mail that exactly matches the first and last name, so you will need to fill out a separate form for nicknames and other name variations you or your loved one may have.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To prevent fraud and make sure you and your loved one don’t miss any important tax communications, make sure the IRS knows the new address. You can do this by visiting this website: https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes/address-changes . You can also reach the IRS via phone by calling 800-829-1040 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Be aware that during the tax season there may be long hold times on the phone. You may want to check with your tax preparer for the best course of action.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You will need to change your address for your car registration and driver’s license, and if your loved one is still driving, you will need to register their address change with the local DMV, too, in order to update their driver’s license, registration, and title of their car. You can do that online (https://www.dmv.org/change-address.php ) or at your local DMV.
Social Security. Go to https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/update-contact-information to update the address for you and your loved one, which will help keep their social security and Medicare information consistent, and help prevent fraud. You can also call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 to change your address by phone.
Register to Vote: Visit https://www.usa.gov/change-voter-registration to update your voter registrations. Each state has their own rules, and if you and your loved one are moving to another state, you should register with that state.
Utilities: Notify your current gas and electric company of the dates of the move, and also notify the new gas and electricity provider (if the company changes). Most utility companies enable you to do this online. Do the same for the water company and Internet and Cable companies. Last, notify the WIFI and/or cellular provider of the address change, too, for billing purposes.
Financial Institutions: Make sure all of your banks and/or your loved one’s bank, loan services, credit card companies, accountants, and financial advisors know of the new address, so the financial accounts will continue to run smoothly. That will help prevent missed payments and fraud.
Insurance: Health, dental, and life insurance companies need to know of your new address. The same is true of car and homeowners’ or renter’s insurance. If you are moving to a new state, you may need to make changes to one or more of your linsurance policies, as not all insurance companies offer coverage in all states.
Health and Legal Care: Make sure doctors, dentists and other health care providers know of the new address for billing and home visiting purposes. The same goes for veterinarians for pets. Alert your lawyer of the new address, too. If your loved one is moving far from their current residence, you may need to find them new health care providers, and make sure medical information is forwarded to these new providers. Also, ensure that your loved one’s prescriptions are filled prior to the move, so they have plenty of medicine on hand to get them through the transition. Prescriptions may need to be forwarded to a pharmacy that is closer to your loved one’s new residence.
Internet-based Services: Websites where you shop online will need to have the delivery address updated, so that purchased goods don’t get shipped to the wrong address. The same is true for streaming media services and payment services such as Venmo, which may be on “auto-pay” status.
Miscellaneous: Don’t forget retail clubs such as Costco, and subscriptions to print magazines, subscription box services such as Book of the Month club, and any religious, social institutions, and clubs who might be sending out a print newsletter, for instance. If you are moving far away, a local gym or recreation center subscription may no longer be practical, and you may have to find a closer venue for you and your loved one.
Friends and Family: Last, don’t forget to send out a notification of you new address to friends and family, so they can welcome you to your home with cards and house-warming gifts!
Going through the numerous channels to make this transition can be time-consuming work, but in the end that is more efficient than trying to track down missing bank statements, bills, or checks because some institution was left off the list. You and your loved one will be grateful in the end.
