You've decided where you're going to move and when. Congratulations! But the hard part of moving is just beginning ? the planning. While the actual moving day may seem like the most stressful day, there is a lot you've got to do to get up to that point. Clerical work, such as paperwork and informing people that you're moving, is an important step in the moving process. One way to cut down on the stress is to get your address updated with all the relevant groups.

One of the first places to go when you change your address is the USPS (United States Postal Service). You can either go to a post office, or look at the USPS website ? once at either of these locations, you can easily find the change of address form. It will allow you to have all of the mail you receive at your current location forwarded to your new address as of a certain date. This means if you know you're moving in a month, you can put in your change of address form to start on the date of your move. The USPS will then forward your mail, as well as letting companies and businesses know you've moved, for up to a year. Keep in mind, it can take a couple weeks for the post office to start forwarding the mail.

Another place that you'll need to give notice of your address change is the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). You can either do this directly by contacting the IRS or going to the IRS website, or you can let them know your change of address via your next tax form. Your employer will also report a change of address to the IRS. This is an important step, because the IRS needs to know where you live in order to determine your state income taxes.

As a matter of common sense, you should also let friends and family know as much information as possible. This means notifying family and friends that your address has changed, as well as places like your bank, doctor, and other everyday associates. You'll need to notify your place of work as well. A good way to let friends and family know your new address is to send out cards with your new address printed on them. This not only allows your family to know you've moved, but it also gives them a notice they can keep with your new address on it.

Updating your address when you move is one of those little things that can become a pain. Do it well ahead of time and you can avoid situations where you lose mail, miss bill payments and so on.