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You've been living in one state for most of your life, and now have moved to a new home in a new location, across state lines. Aside from changing your address with the post office and all of your friends, there are many things you'll need to do. Here are some of the most important:
Get a new driver's license. Most, if not all states have a time requirement dictating when you'll need to have your new license. You'll need to first call the Department of Motor Vehicles' Licensing Division to find out the location of the nearest office to you, and then take note of the hours. Many of these state offices are closed on Mondays. Note that some states require either a written test, a driving test, or both. Some states simply transfer your former state's license. You will need to surrender your old license when you take possession of a new one: it is not legal to hold a license from more than one state at a time. Find out the requirements and get this important task completed quickly.
Register your vehicle in your new state. Note that just because your former state registration is not expired does not mean that you do not have to register at your new home. Again, most states have a strict time requirement when this must be completed. Don't hesitate, as neglecting this can cause a hefty fine.
Open a local checking account. Many businesses won't accept an out of state check. Even if you're planning to keep your former account open for a period of time, open a checking account in your new state.
Make sure that your auto insurance company knows that you've moved. Rates change from state to state, and some states can't write insurance for you if you're living in a state where they don't have offices. Call them and discuss this, as your current insurance could be void if you were to have an accident.
Find a doctor and dentist. You'll need names quickly if you have a problem. Ask a neighbor, co-worker, or other person you've met and whose judgement you trust. Have your files transferred to the office as soon as you can. When you visit a new doctor, you'll want him to have your paperwork at hand.
Find a pharmacy and transfer your prescriptions. It will save you the hassle of waiting for them to do this when you are waiting for medications.
There are plenty of other tasks to complete when you've moved from one state to another, but if you get these initial ones completed, you'll be able to rest a bit as you formulate a "To Do" list.
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