Taxation & Estate Planning

Tired of the same old items on a wedding gift registry? A recent article in the Boston Globe points out that some couples are looking to register for more useful things - like legal services.  It makes sense; once you are married you'll need a Will, perhaps to update your health care proxy and power of attorney to appoint your new spouse, maybe you need assistance with getting your names changed, or you want to put the house in both names.

Just think of the possibilities - for an engagement party the couple could register for gift certificates to their respective attorneys to have a prenuptial agreement drawn up, then after the wedding they need to begin their estate plan, and once the babies start to arrive the estate plan needs to be updated with trusts and guardians. 

While I don't think you'll find a gift registry on this site anytime soon, it's always good to keep in mind the practical things that need to be taken care of after the festivities are done.