Contracts can be a useful tool for a d/s relationship, but you have to be careful before you sign on the dotted line.

A good contract between a dom and sub should have just as much in it about the dominants responsibilities as it does about the submissive's duties. It should also give very specific information on what the submissive is required to do and specific information on when the submissive isn't required to perform normal duties.

Example:

I agree to service my master sexually any time he requires it.

Very romantic and it sounds great, but are you really going to give your master a blowjob when you have the stomach flu? According to the above he would be within his rights to ask for it. Although you could tell him that he's getting a handjob and that's that because it just says sexually. Not what kind of sex. This is better:

I agree to service my master in whatever sexual way he requires any time he requires it except during periods of illness, bereavement, or other debilitating circumstances that may occur. Other debilitating circumstances to be discussed at the time of occurence and our course to be decided upon by both myself and my master. If I feel that my master is pushing me beyond my established limits I have the duty to inform him. If he ignores the information I have the right to terminate this contract.

I know it ain't romantic folks, but if you are going to live by a contract it needs to be as specific as possible so no one feels cheated later on.

Make sure your contract gives you both the right to change it and to terminate it at any time. D/s relationships grow and evolve just like vanilla ones and the contract should reflect that you both know that.

I'll add more examples from good and bad contracts later on.