Giving and Getting: Marital Contracts

Abstract

The contracting process can be one of the most important skills that couples learn in therapy. Contracts between marriage partners are not a new or revolutionary idea. The ketubah, the ancient Jewish marriage contract, determined certain obligations of husband and wife to one another. As tribes and clans evolved into political entities, the state began to dictate how individuals were to become and remain married. In this way, many provisions from ancient marriage contracts were assimilated into legal statutes or common law, while others continued as traditions or customs. Thus, the revival of personal contracts between marriage partners has historical precedent. One difference between the historical and current therapeutic use of marriage contracts is that contemporary contracting is done with couples who are already married and who are experiencing discomfort in their relationship.