Marriage Contract Division of Household

Marriage Contract

Division of Household Labor

It is hereby agreed by the parties that each will contribute an equal share toward household labor and related responsibilities. In that regard, those respective responsibilities shall be reduced (or increased, as the case may be) in proportionate relation to the financial contribution to the household financial support. More specifically, the degree to which each partner's household labor responsibilities is reduced by virtue of disproportionately higher financial contribution, the amount of time and effort required to earn that money will also be factored in so as not to deprive either party of appropriate benefit of contribution efforts in connection with longer hours at a lower paying job. Further, in assigning respective responsibilities, the parties shall first identify their respective most preferred and least preferred methods of contribution so that each can contribute as much as possible with as little inconvenience as possible.

Expectations for Paid Employment and Workload

The respective obligations of each partner to earn a financial wage will be determined by their relative abilities in that regard as well as by the financial needs of the household. If the circumstances cause the parties to agree that only one will earn an income, the other will assume full responsibility for other household obligations. In the event that the income from one partner is insufficient to support the household, the other partner will make a conscientious effort to find the highest paying work possible to contribute. In the event the financial contribution is unequal thereafter, the party contributing less shall be responsible for a proportionately higher share of other responsibilities pursuant to the preceding clause.

Sexual Responsibilities

It is hereby stipulated that neither party shall ever use sex for manipulative purposes, such as by withholding it strategically. Conversely, it is also hereby stipulated that neither party shall ever demand sex if the other partner indicates lack of current interest. Neither party will ever react in anger to polite rejection in recognition of the fact that their respective desires may not always coincide. Both partners are equally free to indulge in self-sex by any means desired provided it does not involve any other person. In that regard, it is hereby stipulated that self-sex is a normal healthy practice and is never to be taken as a rejection or shamed or discouraged.

Contraception Responsibilities

It is hereby stipulated that neither party will make any effort to conceive or not to conceive outside of the express understanding of the parties with respect to whether or not they desire to conceive at any particular time. The parties shall communicate their individual desires and come to a mutual agreement with respect to conception after which each party may choose the method of birth control desired provided it is one that is agreed to by the parties. In the event either party wishes the freedom not to be responsible for contraception, the parties shall take turns for that responsibility for different periods of time and shall adhere to whatever method is mutually agreed upon.

Child Bearing Expectations

The parties hereby agree that the decision to bear children must be mutual and that they will conceive only the maximum number of children as desired by the party desiring the least number. The choice to conceive at any particular time shall only be mutual and shall be dictated by the preceding clause. In the event the couple cannot conceive together, preference as to specific method of conception shall be first determined by the available options to include the genetic contributions of each partner. The decision to conceive through other means (i.e. sperm or egg donor, etc.) must be mutual and dictated by the desires of the partner who would have to endure the greatest consequences of those respective choices. In that regard, it is hereby acknowledged that the female partner will have that greater burden but that apart from issues of physical comfort and sacrifice, each partner's emotional priorities relating to the specific choice will enjoy equal priority.

Childcare Expectations

It is hereby stipulated that the breakdown of childcare responsibilities will be dictated by the provisions of this contract relating to the division of household labor and the respective obligations to contribute financially to the household. Specifically, childcare shall be considered one element of household responsibilities and those responsibilities shall be borne in proportion to the respective financial and work-related contributions of the partners. In the event the partners contribute equally with respect to finances, they will share childcare responsibilities equally. The same variables that dictate household responsibilities more generally shall also govern childcare responsibilities.

It is hereby stipulated that the children shall take the same surname as the father in keeping with prevailing social norms but that the female spouse may, at her option, choose to take her husband's surname or a hyphenated variation thereof incorporating both surnames. Disciplinary methods shall be agreed upon in advance of implementation based on need but it is hereby stipulated in advance that corporal punishment shall not be allowed except symbolically.

Religious Expectations

It is hereby stipulated that the children will receive a general introduction to their parents' religious traditions but without any obligation to adopt them. They will be taught either an agnostic or atheistic religious perspective and they will not be taught that morality is an issue between any "gods" and man. They will be taught secular morality and ethics and they will be encouraged and permitted to determine their own religious perspective and beliefs thereafter. Religious and other holiday observances shall be mutually agreed upon and either party retains the option to disavow any participation at will. Children shall have the same option after the age of 12.

Financial Obligations

Each party may maintain a separate bank account and the parties will also contribute equally (or proportionately pursuant to other applicable clauses) to a joint account. Retirement plans and expectations will be discussed periodically and any choices or decisions that must be made in that regard shall be determined jointly. All personal property shall be owned jointly except for family heirlooms and personal property owned prior to the marriage, which shall be owned by the original owner. Neither partner shall incur any joint legal debt without the consent of the other. It is hereby stipulated that credit will only be used as necessary for major purchases such as homes and motor vehicles. All other expenses must be paid for in full from savings and subject to the provisions of this contract relating to mutual financial support responsibilities.