Contract

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A contract, often called a slave contract or an M/s contract, is an agreement sometimes used in Power exchange Relationships between the D type and the S type. A contract can be either formal or not, and is usually written after much verbal and written Negotiations by both parties, outlining what structure, guidelines, rules and boundaries to the relationship are agreed upon by the two participants.

Contracts are often drafted after a period of relationship specific training though not all contracts are for intimate relationships as many may be purely service-oriented or even limited to a specific scene.

Best Practices

Contract negotiations should not take place when the bottom is in a submissive state of mind, should be done in a neutral atmosphere where all parties are on equal footing. Liken it to signing any type of business contract and conduct your participation as such (with honor and integrity), making sure to read and understand the contents thoroughly and ensuring that your needs and wants in the agreement are being met in exchange for your agreed levels of participation. It is wise to consider all options carefully and be sure you have long since completed your Know Thyself exercise, otherwise you won't be able to give much in the way of informed consent.

A Master/slave contract is never legally binding (as the slave always retains the legal right of last refusal even if they should choose to agree not to exercise it) and continued participation is entirely dependent upon mutual consent and could loosely be compared to a Vanilla wedding vow. This contract can be for an hour, a day, a lifetime, or until some other clearly defined criteria is met. Contracts can exist in other dynamics besides M/s, though M/s by far the most closely associated dynamic.

According to the MsDC there are 8 criteria[1] that an M/s contract covers which are:

  • The purpose of the agreement
  • The duration of the agreement
  • The scope of Authority and obedience
  • The intentions, expectations and obligations of parties
  • The procedure for dealing with partial breach of contract
  • The procedure for termination of contract
  • The obligations following termination, or Exit strategy
  • The procedures for revision and renewal.

Additionally the contract should reference milestones of accountability; code of conduct; goals for community involvement; policies and procedures (inclusive of disciplinary policy); protocols and rituals; household and financial management; and roles and responsibilities.

Such references may be written directly into the contract or refer to separate Household documents or to such oral agreements as have been clearly elucidated between the Master(s) and the slave(s) and mutually agreed upon.

Sample Contract

The purpose of this instrument is to: state the full mutual consent of the undersigned in regards to this relationship. explain the responsibilities and duties of both Master and slave.

This contract is in no way legally binding, and is meant only as an aid to better understanding of the needs, duties and responsibilities of Master and slave. I ____________, hereinafter referred to as slave, do of my own free will, and being of sound mind and body, do hereby offer myself in consensual slavery to Master _______, hereinafter referred to as Master, for the period beginning at midnight on ____________ and ending at midnight on ______________ (365 days). This agreement may be terminated at any time before the above named date by either party only in the event of breach of contract. On the above named date this agreement will be reviewed, negotiated and rewritten, or terminated as the parties are so inclined.

Provisions of Contract Slave agrees to obey to the best of her ability, and to devote herself entirely to the pleasure and desires of Master. The Master agrees to train the slave in manners that please him. Slave also renounces all rights to her own pleasure, comfort, or gratification except insofar as permitted by Master. The scope of authority and obedience shall be absolute with the understanding the Master may alter existing protocols and directives for any or no reason at all. Master agrees to learn what enhances the slave through exploration and communication and will make efforts to incorporate this into the relationship. Master accepts full responsibility of slave. This includes but is not limited to: slave's survival, health, physical well being, and mental well being. Slave accepts full responsibility for informing Master with use of the communication protocol of any real or perceived dangers or safety concerns (psychological, physical, and emotional), but also states that Master's decision will be final regarding these issues. Master agrees that slave will not be punished for respectfully stating these concerns. Master further agrees to listen to slave's concerns with a clear and open mind. Master shall endeavor not to inflict or allow any form of harm upon slave which might require the attention of someone outside of the House. Slave agrees at all times to make her body, behavior and attitude readily available to Master for his use in any fashion he decides. Slave agrees to accept the responsibility of using a safeword when necessary. Slave acknowledges that safeword is “It Begs Mercy, Master" and safe signal will be the double tap, brush drop, two squeeze test and pony signals as appropriate. Master accepts the responsibility of assessing situations where slave calls safeword and will, to the best of his ability, make judgement on whether to continue, modify the activity or stop activity entirely. Slave agrees to hold no ill will due to Master's decision. Master agrees not to punish slave for the use of a safeword. Slave agrees to answer any and all questions asked by Master freely, promptly, and to the best of her knowledge. Slave further agrees to volunteer any information that Master should know regarding slave's physical or emotional state. Master agrees to use this information in a benevolent fashion and never act with direct malfeasance. Slave states that her limits are, but are not limited to: ____________________________________________________

Master agrees to never violate these limits without prior negotiation of, and consent by, slave and will revisit and renegotiate limits in good faith with the slave as needed. Slave agrees to address Master as "Sir" or "Master" as appropriate by level of protocol unless otherwise directed. Slave agrees to speak respectfully to Master at all times, including times not spent in a scene. Master may address slave in any way he so chooses. Master agrees to furnish slave with a symbolic token of ownership. Slave agrees to wear this symbol at all times, except when Master states to do so would be inappropriate or would non-consensually involve others. Slave agrees and understands that any infractions of this agreement, or any act slave commits which displeases Master, will result in consequence and punishment. Slave will gracefully accept punishment and make sincere attempts to grow and learn from the experience of punishment. Master agrees to use responsible use of punishment. In the event of partial breach of contract on the part of the Master the contract shall be temporarily suspended and the slave will seek to work with the Master towards the reinstatement of the contract for a minimum of thirty days, after which point the slave may move to whole breach of contract. In the event of partial breach of contract on the part of the slave the Master shall administer responsible use of punishment. In the event of whole breach of contract the Master or slave may request to have the symbolic token of ownership removed. Two weeks shall pass. If the removal of the symbolic token is still desired it will then be removed and the Leather family will be notified to begin transition according to contract and the needs of the slave. The slave may claim its personal effects as described by the Master and may remove itself from the House. The slave will be financially responsible to the household for two monthly billing cycles whether it remains or not during that time. If it chooses to remain it will be granted minimal comforts, though it will not be tasked by the Master. It will be subject to his house rulings during that time, which will be designed to transition the slave and the Master apart effectively. The slave will also have a percentage of savings of $10 per month that is set aside from their contributions to the house in the event that they should ever decide to remove themselves. Every five years the slave may choose to donate this money to the house rather than leave it in escro and then start the savings account again.


Signed, this __________ day of ____________, 20___.

________________________________________ MASTER

________________________________________ slave

Contract Signing

Lifetime contracts are usually not signed until Training is considered relatively complete, usually after one year of live in service. Even in life long contracts, many have a practice of annual renewal written in to ensure communications about if the agreement is still serving its purpose.

Contract signing is often, but not always, a Ritual or BDSM event of sorts and may or may not take the form of a Collaring ceremony which might be public or private. It is presumed that all who enter into a contract do so in good faith, with honorable and ethical intentions, and with strength and integrity of character.