Do you think taking pics like this was in their love contract? | Source: ShutterStock

When you’re having relationship problems, it can be super tempting to just make a list of relationship rules to follow–and sometimes people do that! But some people are taking it a step further will all-out love contracts. These can dictate everything from how often you go out on dates to how many nights a week you have sex. Say what?!

Experts are at odds as to whether or not having a love contract is actually good for your relationship. And frankly, I’m not sure they’d really help matters at all.

If you feel the need to sit down and draw up a list of written rules–not much different from the prenuptial agreements people have before they get married, some of which include special clauses for cheating, haircuts and even weight gain–can your relationship really be worth salvaging to begin with?

And with the sex contracts, um, dude, seriously? What happens if you’re just not in the mood, on your period or if he’s too tired to perform well? Are you gonna whip out a piece of loose leaf paper that you guys signed and be like, “But it says right here that we need to do this twice a week!” This opens up a whole can of consensual worms that are probably best left avoided. (Plus, isn’t it more fun when sex happens naturally when you both just want it?)

There are, however, two good things that a relationship contract may bring: in terms of a sex contract, instead of how much you’re willing to have or what you’re necessarily open to doing–because those can change really easily and often–why not just reinforce the fact that you always want protection? And in terms of your emotional relationship, drawing up a contract–or even just talking about it–leads to open communication. By sitting down and hashing out what each of you wants and expects from your partner, you’re each more likely to deliver than if you’d both just expected the other person to just magically read your mind.

Do you think love contracts can solve your relationship problems? Do you think relationship contracts could make your relationship problems worse? Tell us in the comments!

Ariel from The Little Mermaid can solve your relationship problems!

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!