A couple in China recently initiated a rather unusual arrangement, giving each other the right to financial reimbursement from their partner should they err in their relationship in reference to a mutual agreement they had drawn up. As with all great ideas, the whole notion seems absurd; however, although there might still be a few minor details that may require revision, on the whole it could prove to be the best thing since prenuptual agreements.

Firstly, since it’s a relationship contract, noone has to bother about the inconvenience of marriage before exacting legally-binding promises from their partner. Nor need it only apply to romantic or sexual partners: you could enter into such an agreement with your work colleagues, your friends and even (or especially) members of your family.

Secondly, both you and your partner will know exactly what your responsibilities are. No more will you have to fret about withholding information about prior relationships or not telling the truth when asked those particularly delicate questions. With the relationship contract you’ll always know what and how much to say about any given topic. Plus, there can never be any doubt as to how much effort each party is - or ought to be - investing in the relationship, since all of that would already have been decided upon.

Thirdly, it will reduce the amount of tension in uneasy relationships, both reducing the prospect of arguments and making breakups less truamatic. With specific clauses drawn into the contract, the relationship can only ever end amicably, since both parties would already have full knowledge of the conditions under which their relationship may be terminated.

So don’t just have personal contacts, have personal contracts - they’ll make you, as well as your kith and kin, a lot happier.