Full Question: Is a contract required for a D/s relationship?
Answer:
The short answer is no. A contract is not required for a D/s relationship.
A D/s contract is a physical document outlining the D/s relationship. A contract is not a legally binding document but more of a symbolic agreement between two consenting individuals. Some are very formal and have multiple pages; others are as brief as a few paragraphs.
A contract is a great helpful tool for people who prefer to lay out everyone’s responsibilities and goals and have something they can refer to when you need to remind the relationship what direction you agreed to go.
Contracts are a sticky subject in discussions. The opinions are all over the place as far as their value or use as a tool for relationships.
The Arguments
One side of the argument says that a contract helps make the expectations for each party clear cut, the time frame it is agreed upon is understood, and it can be renewed and modified to fit the couple as they grow together. The contract can be used to remind each other of the importance of the new relationship and a way to reconnect with the agreed-upon terms.
The other side of the argument says that contracts are worthless, and the two individuals involved need to be serious about the relationship without the need for a contract. If the relationship is failing, a contract will not resurrect it. This side also says that if the contract is discovered by the authorities, you can be charged with prostitution and solicitation or worse. It has happened before; just check the news archives.
You should consider the use of a contract if you are in a temporary situation and are taking a collar for a short duration. This provides an element of dedication to the experience you wish to enjoy and also lays down a foundation for how the term will play out.
Contracts also give a sense of importance to the relationship. You may feel a stronger need to work hard at problems as they arise because you have a contract. You may also feel more committed to achieving everything laid out so that your contract will be renewed.