[brien]

The only reason I see for a marrriage contract is to give children a common last name. However, this is even disappearing in the culture.

Some women choose to give their child their last name as opposed to the time honored tradition of using the father's last name. Gays adopt and choose either theirs or their partner's last name. My neice bore a child out of wedlock and gave he son her last name.

Seeing some awful divorces in my time, and how the courts screw men big time, I would opt to NOT marry if I had it to do all over again, and I have been happily married 29 years.