I, being particularly irreligious and not neccesarily law-abiding, see very little difference between 2 possible legal contracts (as described in posts above), except that 1 has an expiration date set, and the other needs a legal settlement (often including prolonged litigation, animosity, and restraining orders) to end it. As the old argument goes "If we really love each other, why do we need a piece of paper to prove it?". Maybe the 5-year contract could be used to see how both parties react in a legally-bound relationship, before they go to the god of their choice, or justice of the peace, for a more "permanent" contract. If so many mariages didn't end in abuse, homicide, and savage divorces, noone would be seeking alternatives. I've been wed, and consequently divorced, and will never make that mistake again. A 5-yr. contract, on the other hand, even I might accept.