Manage client addresses to ensure accurate contact information, verify deliverability through USPS validation, and generate postal mailings directly from your dashboard.

### Overview

- **What it is:** The **Addresses** module lets you store, verify, and manage physical addresses for clients across your agency.
- **Why it matters:** Accurate addresses are critical for court notifications, postal mailings, and compliance. USPS verification reduces returned mail and ensures deliverability.
- **Who uses it:** Agency administrators, case managers, and clerks who manage client contact information or generate mailings.
- **Expected outcomes:** Verified client addresses, fewer returned mailings, streamlined postal workflows, and accurate geocoded location data.

### Prerequisites

- An active eCourtDate agency account
- Role with permission to manage client records
- At least one client record created in the system
- USPS verification enabled in your agency settings (for address validation)

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Access the Addresses Module

1. Click **Addresses** from the main navigation.
2. Review the list of existing addresses or click **Create Address** to create a new entry.

#### Step 2: Assign an Address to a Client

1. Click **Create Address** or open an existing client record.
2. Select the **Address Type** from the dropdown (home, work, school, mail, hospital, jail, parents, or other).
3. Enter the street address, city, state, and ZIP code in the corresponding fields.
4. Select the associated **Client** from the dropdown if you are adding the address from the Addresses module.
5. Click **Save** to store the address.

#### Step 3: Verify an Address with USPS

1. Open an existing address record.
2. Click **Verify Address**.
3. Review the USPS-standardized version of the address that appears.
4. Click **Accept** to replace the current address with the verified version, or click **Cancel** to keep the original.

#### Step 4: Generate Postal Mailings

1. Navigate to **Addresses** from the main navigation.
2. Select one or more addresses using the checkboxes.
3. Click **Generate Mailing** from the actions menu.
4. Choose your mailing template and confirm the details.
5. Click **Send** to queue the mailing for processing.

#### Step 5: Enable Client Self-Service Updates

1. Ensure your client portal is active under **Portals**.
2. Clients can log into the portal and update their own address information.
3. Updated addresses appear in the **Addresses** module for your review.

#### Step 6: Bulk Export Addresses

1. Navigate to **Addresses** from the main navigation.
2. Apply any filters you need (by type, verification status, or client).
3. Click **Export** to download the filtered address list as a CSV file.

#### Step 7: Bulk Export for Postal Notifications

Export address lists formatted for postal service processing.

1. Navigate to **Addresses** from the main navigation.
2. Apply filters to select the target audience (for example, all clients with active cases in a specific jurisdiction).
3. Click **Export** and select **Postal Export** as the format.
4. The system generates a USPS-compatible CSV file with standardized address fields (name, street, city, state, ZIP, barcode).
5. Download the export file and submit it to your postal service provider or mailing vendor for processing.

Postal exports include only USPS-verified addresses by default. Enable **Include Unverified** in the export options if you need to include addresses that have not been validated.

#### Step 8: Use Geocoding

1. Open an address record that has been verified.
2. View the geocoded latitude and longitude displayed on the address detail page.
3. Use geocoded data for mapping, proximity searches, or reporting.

### What to Expect

Once you save and verify an address, the USPS validation status updates immediately. Geocoding results typically appear within a few seconds. Postal mailings enter a processing queue and are dispatched according to your agency's mailing schedule.

### Best Practices

- Verify all addresses with USPS before generating postal mailings to reduce returned mail.
- Use specific address types (home, work, school, mail, hospital, jail, parents) to keep records organized and improve reporting accuracy.
- Encourage clients to update their own addresses through the self-service portal to reduce administrative workload.
- Run bulk exports periodically to audit address quality across your client base.
- Review unverified addresses regularly and resolve any flagged issues promptly.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What address types are available?**
A: You can assign addresses as home, work, school, mail, hospital, jail, parents, or other. Select the appropriate type from the dropdown when creating or editing an address.

**Q: What happens if USPS verification fails?**
A: The system flags the address as unverified and displays the reason (such as an invalid ZIP code or missing apartment number). You can correct the address and try verification again.

**Q: Can clients update their own addresses?**
A: Yes. If your agency has an active client portal, clients can log in and update their address information directly. Changes appear in your **Addresses** module for review.

**Q: Does geocoding work for all addresses?**
A: Geocoding works for most US addresses. International addresses or incomplete entries may not return geocoded results. Verify the address first to improve geocoding accuracy.

**Q: Can I export addresses for a specific group of clients?**
A: Yes. Use the filter options on the **Addresses** page to narrow results by client, type, or status, then click **Export** to download the filtered list.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** USPS verification returns "Address Not Found."
**Symptoms:** The address status remains unverified after clicking **Verify Address**.
**Solution:** Double-check the street number, street name, and ZIP code for typos. Ensure the address exists and is deliverable. Try entering the address exactly as it appears on official correspondence.

**Issue:** Geocoding does not display coordinates.
**Symptoms:** Latitude and longitude fields are blank on a verified address.
**Solution:** Confirm the address has been USPS-verified. If the address is in a rural or newly developed area, geocoding data may not be available. Contact support if the issue persists.

### Related Articles

- [How to Manage Clients](/how-to-manage-clients)
- [How to Send Bulk Messages](/how-to-send-bulk-messages)
- [How to Manage Documents](/how-to-manage-documents)