Still nothing on the Bible - Relationship contracts between married couples become popular - again

Relationship contracts are the new trend among the youth and experts say they can help both the husband and wife to enjoy a more fulfilled life and a stronger marriage.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A relationship contract is a written and signed agreement between a husband and a wife, often drafted by a lawyer, that covers the mutual responsibilities and obligations of both.

For example, contracts commonly cover who will fulfill what responsibilities and chores in a household, who is permitted to do what and with what frequency, and even how often the pair may engage in physical activity.

Experts say they can help relationships by creating clear expectations. For example: you feed the kids and do the dishes, then we can cuddle. Or, you tidy the garage and then you can watch the game. Or you get up and into church on time, and I'll fix lunch afterwards.

Interestingly, small, daily obligations like that can build a married couple into a strong pair that can weather even the greatest difficulties, or if needs remain unmet, they can swiftly make a shambles of a marriage.

The contracts can even make allowances for time away from one another, detailing how often, and with whom.

The only problem with the contracts is that they can't really be enforced, at least not by a judge. Still, by providing clarity and expectations in a relationships, couples can focus on tackling more important concerns since they know daily concerns will be handled.

Of course, relationship contracts are nothing new. The Bible discusses obligations between husbands and wives, although those contracts are typically less egalitarian since they are a product of a different time. Nonetheless, they can provide a good starting point for any couple interesting in discussing a contract of their own.

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