Moving
Out Checklist
You can
come to the Mumford House with no belongings. We will provide
you with basic needs and help you get started if you have to
leave essentials behind. Also, the police may be able to escort
you back home to gather any items left behind if you choose
to do this.
Some
women have found it useful to get the following list of items
ready to bring with them if they have to leave quickly. You
may want to hide these items outside in a secret location or
at the home of friend or family member you trust. Many women
keep their safety plan secret and only tell people they absolutely
trust.
A suitcase
that contains:
- Clothes
- Special
toys and comforts for children
- A
secret personal bank account with money in with its own bank
card
- Medication
- Photos
and special items that cannot be replaced
- Photo
of abuser and children
- Photocopies
of important documents for her and her children
- Lease
/ rental / mortgage agreements
- Divorce
papers
- Custody
documents
- Restraining
orders
- Marriage
Certificate
- Work
permits
- Medical
records and prescriptions
- Passports
- Birth
Certificates
- School
records
- Vaccination
records
- Welfare
identification
- Photocopies
of all cards in your wallet (credit cards, health cards, etc.)
- Extra
copies of keys
- A
list of items to come back for if she has to flee
- Cash
A purse
and wallet (kept nearby so it can be easily accessed) that contains:
- Keys
to the car / house / office
- Bank
books / bank cards / credit cards
- Phone
cards
- Healthcare
card for her and her children
- Social
Insurance card
- Driver’s
license, registration and insurance
- Up
to date address / contact book
- Photos
of her children and abuser
- Cash
Everyone’s
situation is different. You may want to consider the following:
- If
my abuser asks me what I am doing if he sees me preparing
what will tell him?
- Do
I want to tell a neighbour to call the police if they hear
suspicious noises?
- What
are the best ways to get out of the house?
- Should
I set up a code word with my children to tell them to go to
a safe place if my abuser is being violent?
