Legal Definitions - marriage-brokerage contract

A marriage-brokerage contract is an agreement where one person or entity agrees to find a spouse for another person in exchange for payment or other compensation. Historically, courts have viewed these types of contracts as unenforceable because they are considered to go against fundamental societal values and public policy, as marriage should ideally be based on free will and affection rather than a commercial transaction.

• Example 1: The Professional Matchmaker Service
  Mr. Thompson, a busy executive, signs a contract with "Elite Unions," a high-end matchmaking agency. The agreement states that Elite Unions will introduce Mr. Thompson to a curated selection of potential marriage partners from their exclusive database. The contract specifies that Mr. Thompson will pay a substantial fee of $75,000 if he marries anyone introduced by the agency within a three-year period.

  How this illustrates the term: This is a marriage-brokerage contract because Elite Unions is an entity acting for compensation ($75,000 fee) with the explicit purpose of procuring a spouse for Mr. Thompson for marriage.

• Example 2: The "Success Fee" Dating Platform
  Ms. Chen subscribes to a premium online dating platform called "Eternal Bonds." Unlike standard dating sites, Eternal Bonds offers a specialized tier where, for an initial membership fee and an additional "success fee" of $25,000 payable upon marriage to someone met through their platform, they guarantee personalized coaching, extensive compatibility testing, and introductions to individuals specifically vetted for long-term commitment and marriage.

  How this illustrates the term: Here, Eternal Bonds is acting as a broker, receiving compensation (the initial fee and the success fee) with the primary goal of procuring a spouse for Ms. Chen, which aligns with the definition of a marriage-brokerage contract.

• Example 3: The Paid Family Intermediary
  Aunt Isabella, known for her extensive social connections, offers to introduce her niece, Sofia, to several eligible individuals from her affluent social circle. She proposes a formal written agreement where Sofia will pay her a lump sum of $15,000 if she marries anyone Aunt Isabella introduces her to, explaining it as compensation for her time, effort, and the use of her network.

  How this illustrates the term: Even though it involves a family member, Aunt Isabella is entering into an agreement to procure a spouse for Sofia in exchange for compensation ($15,000), which fits the definition of a marriage-brokerage contract.