How to Pack Important Documents for a House Move
Passports, deeds, birth certificates and insurance paperwork should never travel loose in the removal van; they should stay with you personally, in one folder, for the entire day. Everything else, old bills, expired paperwork, is the ideal thing to sort through and clear out before a move rather than after.
None of this needs specialist equipment, just a clear folder and five minutes of sorting.
Keep passports, deeds, certificates and insurance documents in one folder you carry yourself, never in the van. Sort remaining paperwork into labelled categories, and shred anything you no longer need.
Which Documents Should Travel With You
Passports, birth and marriage certificates, property deeds, wills, insurance policies and anything else that would be genuinely difficult to replace should be gathered into a single folder or document box that you personally carry from the old address to the new one, the same principle as jewellery and other small valuables.
This is standard practice regardless of how much you trust whoever is moving your furniture, simply because these documents are impossible to itemise or insure at their true replacement cost and inconvenience.
A Fireproof or Waterproof Box for Originals
Photographing or Scanning Documents Before the Move
Sorting Everyday Paperwork Into Categories
For the wider mass of household paperwork, old bills, statements, warranties, manuals, sort into clear categories, property, financial, medical, and pack each into its own labelled folder or box rather than one large mixed pile.
This sorting step is worth doing properly, since a move is one of the few times most households actually go through years of accumulated paperwork, and it makes finding anything specific afterwards far easier.
Shredding What You No Longer Need
- 01
Use the move as an opportunity to shred or securely recycle paperwork you genuinely do not need to keep: expired insurance documents, old utility bills more than a few years old, superseded warranties for items you no longer own.
- 02
This reduces the volume of paper you are carrying to a new home and removes personal information from documents that would otherwise sit in storage indefinitely.
Children's School and Medical Records
Keep school records, vaccination history and any ongoing medical paperwork for children together in their own labelled folder, since these are often needed quickly when registering at a new school or GP practice shortly after a move.
This is a category worth keeping accessible rather than packed at the bottom of a general box, since the need for it can come up within the first week at a new address.
Digital Backups of Financial and Property Records
Where possible, set up or confirm online access to bank statements, mortgage documents and utility accounts before the move, so a lost or delayed piece of paperwork is not the only way to access that information.
This does not replace keeping physical originals safe, but it removes some of the pressure if a specific document is temporarily hard to locate during the unpacking process.
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A Folder System vs a Fireproof Box
Documents are the one category in a house move where the packing technique matters less than the simple decision to keep them with you rather than on the van.
Treat this folder the same way you would treat your keys or your phone on moving day: something you always know the location of, rather than something set down and half-forgotten among the boxes.
Giant Van's packing service starts from £150 and covers materials, wrapping and loading.
Every booking focuses on furniture, boxes and household items, while small valuables and paperwork are always the owner's responsibility to carry personally, exactly as any reputable mover would advise.
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How to Pack Important Documents for a House Move — FAQs
Should important documents be packed in the removal van?
No. Passports, deeds, certificates and insurance documents should stay with you personally throughout the move, the same principle that applies to jewellery and other small valuables.
What is the best way to protect original documents during a move?
A fireproof and waterproof document box or bag protects the most critical originals, such as deeds and wills, both during the move and for long afterwards.
Should I photograph documents before a house move?
Yes, as a useful backup. It is not a substitute for keeping the originals safe, but a photo or scan stored separately gives you quick access to a detail without unpacking a sealed folder.
Is moving house a good time to shred old paperwork?
Yes. It is a natural point to clear expired insurance documents, old bills and superseded warranties, reducing both the volume you carry and the amount of personal information sitting in long-term storage.
Should children's school records be packed separately?
Yes, in their own labelled folder kept accessible rather than packed at the bottom of a box, since school and medical records are often needed quickly after a move.
What should I do if I cannot find online access to a bank or utility account before moving?
Set this up in advance where possible. Online access to financial and property accounts reduces the pressure if a specific physical document is temporarily hard to locate during unpacking.
Should a will be kept at home or somewhere else during a move?
If your will is stored with a solicitor or in a bank safe deposit, it does not need to be part of your moving-day folder at all. If you hold the original at home, it belongs with your other critical documents that travel with you personally, not in the van.
Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- WRAP
WRAP's guidance on reuse and recycling, including what to do with packing materials and bulky items you no longer want.
- HSE — Manual handling at work: a brief guide (INDG143)
The Health and Safety Executive's guide to lifting and carrying heavy loads without injuring yourself.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd. Registered in England & Wales.