Contract
D/s contracts are a way of defining the nature and limits of a relationship and are not intended to carry legal force.
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This kind of contract is a controversial area of the D/s lifestyle. Some like the additional structure and surety it provides, some feel it is too cold and restrictive.
Legality
Note that the kind of contract discussed here has no legal standing: they are only an agreement between consenting people.
Slave contracts are rarely legally binding and in some countries, the possession of a Master/slave contract may be illegal.
There are some contracts that may assist in formalising, enacting or enabling of a Master/slave relationship which might, individually, be legal but they are not discussed here.
Period
Slave contracts are sometimes negotiated for a specific period of time — such as one year but longer and shorter terms are possible &mdash while others are lifetime contracts. Where the contract is in effect continuously, the relationship may be referred to as "24/7". The limits of the slave contract can vary widely and extend into various areas of BDSM and otherwise vanilla life.
People usually only enter into a Master/slave contract after they have known and played with each other for some time, often several years.
Styles of contract
For those who feel that writing down the contractual obligations of the partners can help their power exchange relationship, there are three main ways to consider doing this that have worked for other people. There are other ways to do it of course but none that have proven themselves over a long period of time.
Single stage (simple) contract
Laying out the obligations and duties on both sides. This defines the balance of power exchange at the time and leaves open any decrease or increase in power exchange, though it might refer to an intent.
Time-controlled, or staged, contract
This defines the obligations and duties each will assume at certain points along their agreed path. Normally, the defined level of power exchange starts as a simple structured definition of the relationship at the time. The contract specifies the furthest level of power exchange the parties think they could ever be comfortable with and what the duties and obligations shall be at that time. In between are a number of stages, normally between two and four, with each step mapped out. The level of power exchange is normally increased over time, though I am aware of one where the final stage was a required dissolution of the relationship. The timing of when the contractual stages come into force are not usually in the contract. Instead, it is up to the submissive(s) to state to the dominant that they are ready for the next stage (thus giving consent) and for the dominant to then inform the submissive when the next stage will come into effect (thus retaining control).
Several contracts used in stages
Defining stages of power exchange over time. The series of staged contracts can be written out in a similar way to having a single, time-controlled contract but normally the final stage is not so well defined, if at all. Each time a contract is agreed, the NEXT contract is prepared, so that both parties not only know the level of power exchange they must meet now, at a minimum, but (as with the single time-controlled contract) understand the objective for the next stage and so will strive to meet it. Normally, only when the parties are happy they are actually living the contract for the next stage, will they both then adopt it, after discussion and drawing up a further contract or deciding that they have gone as far as they wish down the path of power exchange.
Celebration
Once a slave contract has gone through it's various drafts and is finally agreed upon, some celebrate the event with a "collaring ceremony", in which the local D/s community is invited to witness the commitment made in the document. Some ceremonies become quite elaborate, and can be as involved as a wedding or any similar ritual.
