When entering the most important partnership of their lives, couples are increasingly turning to agreements with lifestyle clauses that provide general guidelines for behavior in the marriage, with potential penalties for breaking the agreements. Here are some clauses worth discussing — even if you don’t require your partner to sign on the dotted line.

Written by Estrellita S. Sibila for Brickell Magazine

FLING FEES
Have you ever talked about what you consider cheating? We all want our partner to be faithful and respectful of the relationship but folks often have different ideas of what constitutes cheating. Is it OK to go to lunch with your work-wife at the place your real wife has been dying to go? Is it acceptable to get together with an ex for happy hour? Whether cheating is physical or emotional, clearly defining what your boundaries are is key. Be honest about what you want and what you’re willing to tolerate.

WELLNESS MATTERS
Committing your life to someone ‘till death do you part shouldn’t mean you have to rush the death part. Some spouses consider health clauses to ensure that their partner will be in the best shape possible for as long as possible. If you want him to kick the cigarette habit or make sure that she stays on top of her heart health with regular exercise and proper nutrition, health clauses can help set the grounds for what both partners expect of each other when they commit to each other “in sickness and in health.”

SOCIAL SILENCING
With social sharing becoming the norm, some couples are making sure that they don’t “overshare” by coming up with a social media clause that outlines what is acceptable on websites like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and others. Some couples prefer to limit posts showing their young children or making mention of upcoming vacations that may jeopardize the safety of the family; others may want to make sure things like explicit photos or angry rants exposing intimate details don’t end up posted online.

HAPPY HOUSEHOLDS
Knowing how each partner feels about the delegation of household duties will help bring to light how you see yourselves managing daily to-do’s. Different upbringings and personal experiences can shape what you expect of your mate so be sure to talk about who will be doing the cooking, cleaning, drop-offs, etc. or arrange for these tasks to be alternated every so often. No one wants to feel taken for granted or undervalued. Knowing what each person is responsible for will avoid fights and keep everything tidy.

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