Managing Your Paperwork When You Move

In addition to the obvious packing and heavy lifting, moving also requires a mountain of paperwork. From forwarding your mail to managing your utilities, there’s a lot to do before and after your actual moving day.

To help you get your ducks in a row before you move, we’ve put together a list of all the paperwork you need. Keep reading to ensure your new home has power, running water, internet, mail, and everything else you rely on daily.

• Give notice to your landlord
• Set up utility cancellation and start dates
• Forward your mail
• Inform your health care providers
• Update your address for voting
• Inform your credit card companies and banks
• Inform your children’s current and future schools
• Update your address for Social Security and Medicare benefits
• Get a new driver’s license

If you’re moving out of an apartment or sublet, the first person you should notify about your move is your landlord. This is especially important if your move will be happening before your lease expires.

If you give your landlord enough notice beforehand, they may be able to help you sell your lease and get out of your apartment without paying a cancellation fee.

If your move-out date will align perfectly with the end of your lease, you should still let your landlord know so they aren’t surprised when you don’t renew. This will free them up to accept new tenants.

Next, you’ll want to contact all your current utility providers. Do this a few weeks before you move to make sure they end your service within a day or two of when you move out. Otherwise, you might end up paying for utilities in two separate houses. Nobody needs that.

Here’s a list of common utilities to help you remember who to contact:

• Electricity
• Gas
• Water
• Cable
• Internet
• Garbage and recycling
• Phone (if you have a landline)

After you schedule your service shutoff dates, you’ll want to get all of these utilities set up for your new house by contacting your new providers.

Now let’s talk about mail. If you want to make sure all of your letters, packages, and (sigh) bills make it to your new house, you need to notify the post office of your new address. This way, any mail that comes through for your old address will be sent to your new home instead.

The post office makes this incredibly easy. All you need to do is fill out this online form or go into a USPS location and speak with one of the staff members. The online option costs about a dollar, but it’s much more convenient. The in-person option is free.

You can learn more about mail forwarding in our guide to changing your mailing address.

If you’re moving far enough that you need to get a new doctor and dentist, notify your current health care providers of your move and ask them to send copies of your records to your new providers. Remember, HIPAA entitles you to your medical records upon request.¹ Your providers may charge a fee for this service.

You can also ask your providers for hard copies of your medical and dental records so you have them on file.

If you have any medications you refill regularly, make sure that the prescriptions for them get transferred to a pharmacy in your new neighborhood.

All you need to do is go to your new pharmacy, tell them what medications you’re taking, and give them the contact info for your old pharmacy. The pharmacist will set up an Rx transfer, and your medications should be available at the new pharmacy in a couple of days. If something goes wrong, you might need to contact your doctor.

To participate in local, state, and federal elections, you need to have your current address listed on the voter registry. Many states let you to update this info online, but others require you to submit a physical form in the mail.

To learn what your state’s requirements are, visit this resource from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Your bank and your credit card company are two of the most important institutions in your life, so you should make sure they have your current address on record. This guarantees that they mail your financial statements to the correct address. If your important financial information is being sent somewhere you no longer live, you could be exposed to identity theft.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to update your address with your bank and credit card company. If you bank online, you can usually do this on your institution’s website. If not, you can go to or call the bank or credit company directly.

On any sites where you spend money—Amazon, Etsy, Apple Music, etc.—you should also update your billing address.

If you have kids, you’ll want to make sure their transition into the new house, neighborhood, and school is as smooth as possible. This means you should notify their current schools of your departure and contact their new schools.

It’s important to take care of this as far in advance as possible. If the school you want your kid(s) to attend doesn’t have any openings, you could get on a waitlist. If a spot doesn’t open up in time, you may need to find another school. Avoid this by contacting the new school as soon as you know you’re moving.

To get Social Security and Medicare benefits, you need to update your address when you move.

This is as easy as visiting the government’s Social Security website and updating your profile. You can also change your address by calling the Social Security Administration or visiting your local field office.

If you have additional questions, visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.

If you’re moving in-state, you probably don’t need to get a new driver’s license. Some states do require it, though. To cover all your bases, contact your local DMV and ask.

If you’re moving to another state, you’ll need to visit a DMV in that state to exchange your old license for a new one. This is always required, though some states give you more time to do it than others.

For example, if you moved to Colorado, you would need to do this within 30 days of your move.² California, on the other hand, requires that you do this within 10 days of becoming a resident.³

Have a plan to stay organized during your move—it can significantly reduce stress and ensure everything goes smoothly. Follow these steps to stay on top of your move:

• Create a timeline: Plan tasks week by week leading up to the move.
• Declutter: Sort and donate or dispose of items you don't need.
• Label boxes: List each box's contents and destination room on clearly marked labels.
  Pack essentials separately: Keep a box with essentials for the first few days.
• Use a checklist: Keep track of tasks with a moving checklist.
• Hire professionals: Consider using movers and packers for efficiency.

You need to handle important documents with care when you're moving. This ensures they remain safe and accessible. Here's what you need to do:

• Gather documents: Collect essential documents like birth certificates, passports, and both financial and medical records.
• Use a safe container: Store them in a waterproof, fireproof container.
• Make copies: Create digital and physical copies.
• Keep them accessible: Carry the container with you during the move.
• Notify relevant parties: Update your address with banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.

Now that you know how to handle all your paperwork when you move, we recommend reading these other guides to get ready for moving day:

• Best Interstate Moving Companies
• 5 Ways to Tell If a Moving Company Is a Scam
• How to Plan Your Moving Road Trip

• Do I Need Moving Insurance?
• What’s the Right Moving Truck Size for Your Move?
• Is Your Car Safe During Auto Transport?

1. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “Individuals’ Right under HIPAA to Access their Health Information 45 CFR § 164.524” Accessed July 12, 2024.
2. Colorado Department of Revenue, “New to Colorado” Accessed July 12, 2024.
3. State of California, “Driver License (DL) and Identification (ID) Card Information” Accessed July 12, 2024.