Marriage
Marriage is both a social and legal concept. There are two types of marriage: marriages for contract and marriages for children. All persons are expected to have a marriage for children, but marriages for contract are required by said contract. Neither must be strictly romantic, though some marriages for children are.
Both are considered heterosexual.
Marriages for contract[edit]
Marriages for contract are mandated by a contract. Both parties must marry to fulfill their contracts, and as such said marriages rely on contractual gender and are considered heterosexual.
These marriages can be platonic or romantic, though it is often expected that they will at least be partially romantic. It is expected that they will not be sexual, or at the very least that no children will be produced of the union. They may lead to changes in power, such as one signee becoming the princess consort of a kingdom, but they will not lead to any changes in the bloodline or family.
Marriages for children[edit]
Marriages for contract are always opposite-sex marriages. They are seen as required from a social standpoint, but are generally not legally or contractually required. In the case of those who have signed a contract, they are required so that the signee may have children and pass on the contract.
These marriages often lead to changes in or consolidation of power, such as a non-signee marrying a signee to improve the standing of their children.
These marriages may be platonic or romantic, but are expected to be sexual. A marriage for children is seen as having failed if the parties cannot have children.
Adoption[edit]
If a signee is infertile, they will be expected to adopt. Otherwise, adoption is a sort of last resort for couples who cannot have children. Most children put up for adoption simply age out of the system eventually.
If a person's spouse has died and they remarry, their new spouse will adopt any children from a previous marriage. People who are infertile may marry a widow or widower in order to become socially acceptable.
Wedlock[edit]
Any children born or conceived by partners outside of marriages for children are considered to have been born or conceived out of wedlock. In many cases, even in marriages for contract, this is considered to be a great shame to both those involved in the child's conception and the child themself. However, they may in some cases still inherit land, property, or a contract if there is no one else to inherit them.