Your change of address is a bit more complicated than going to the post office and filling out a form. All the official change of address form does is make sure your mail is forwarded to your new mailing address. It doesn't inform people or companies that you have moved. The sheer number of notifications that must be made can seem staggering.

First there is your personal mail - friends and family will want to know how to direct letters or packages they might send you. Then there are the bills - forwarding mail takes time, and you don't want to be late on a payment because you didn't get your bill on time. Unless you stay very on top of your payments due, it's easy top let a bill slip through the cracks and end up having to pay late charges - or worse, having a service shut off for non-payment.

Prescheduled deliveries also must be taken into account, if you are signed up for auto-shipping for any particular product. Organizations or subscription services will want to be able to communicate with you in a timely manner. In addition, there are all the local companies you do business with that will need to have an accurate address on file.

Planning ahead can make life easier during a move. Some of the most important items in the following checklist can be handled with a quick phone call; for others, have simple address labels made up and mail out postcards letting companies or people know you've moved. Use whatever avenues are open to you to update your address.

The further away you move from your current address, the more important it is to process your change of address for quickly. The sooner all of your records match, the sooner you can have peace of mind knowing that you are receiving all your mail in a timely manner.