"In How to Do Your Own Divorce (1971), attorney and Nolo Press founder Sherman showed people how to get a better divorce. Using the same principles, he and attorney Janke demonstrate how couples (married and unmarried) can create a constructive contract ensuring that their relationship will never end up in court. This contract incorporates relationship concepts, financial tailoring, and faith-based features, as well as legal information regarding who can get family-care leave and who inherits if there is no will. Templates of agreements that encompass present relationships and past marriages and children are provided in the book and on the accompanying CD-ROM. Excellent and comprehensive, this is recommended for all public libraries."

        — Library Journal, January 2006

"This book belongs on the bookshelf of every couple as well as lawyers, psychologists, counselors, and financial professionals. The Couple's Contract is a landmark concept that will nurture, encourage and enhance mature and loving relationships. Attorneys Sherman and Janke brilliantly pull off a difficult balancing act, showing sensitivity to emotional and relationship concerns while thoroughly addressing legal issues."

        — Jonathan Rich, PhD, author of The Couple's Guide to Love & Money

"Expertly co-authored by the attorneys Ed Sherman and Bruce Janke, The Couples Contract For A Lasting Relationship: For All Couples: Married, Getting Married, Unmarried is a complete and comprehensive guide for creating an everlasting bond between couples of every level. Enhanced with the inclusion of a CD-Rom, The Couples Contract For A Lasting Relationship presents a thorough and concise collection of advice and examples for securing important legal benefits through the mechanism of a written contract with respect to a loved one whether engaged, married, or simply living together. By tailoring a written agreement to a couple's particular financial relationships, and building successful problem solving skills with respect to general relationship issues (which may frequently be financial), The Couples Contract For A Lasting Relationship is very strongly recommended as a useful tool and guide to safeguarding the relationship. If you are planning to share your life with that special someone, then give The Couples Contract For A Lasting Relationship a very careful reading first. It could save you a great deal of regret and expense later. "

        — Susan Bethany, Midwest Book Review June 2006

"The Couples Contract for a Lasting Relationship can save couples and their children endless, unnecessary heartache and enormous amounts of money. It would be a better world if all lawyers approached marriage the way Sherman and Janke do."

        — John W. Jacobs, MD, couples therapist
            author of All You Need Is Love and Other Lies About Marriage

"I am giving this book to every client in a committed relationship. A Couples Contract is the foundation for a lasting, loving arrangement and assures that future disagreements are minimized."

        — Bert Whitehead, MBA, JD, financial advisor, author of Facing Financial
            Dysfunction: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things with Money

"Sherman and Janke write in a clear, concise fashion that allows the reader easy access to a relationship contract that is loving, pro-marriage, and beneficial. I will suggest the Couples Contract to all of my couples. Read it, love it, but most importantly, use it!"

        — Rev. Russell K. Elleven, EdD, LPC, CFLE

"A valuable reference for anyone in a committed relationship and professional advisors. The Couples Contract's unique twist is using a contract to improve the quality of relationships, in addition to providing a thorough discussion of financial issues and legal rights of partners."

        — Prof. Barbara O'Neill, Ph.D., CFP, CRPC, AFC, CHC, CFCS
            Financial Resource Management, Rutgers

"With the Couples Contract, it is possible to create a document that can help safeguard your mutual affection. This unique and valuable resource honors your love and trust, and is determined to help you keep it that way. Keep up the good work! You are doing a great service to the public."

        — Peter Pearson, co-founder of The Couples Institute, Menlo Park, CA

"Every couple should read this book. The Couples Contract for a Lasting Relationship provides you with easy to follow steps on how to write a contract with heart-a contract that honors the 'we' in your relationship while respecting and protecting the 'I' of each of you." Great material. Well done."

        — Dr. Mackenzie Brooks, PhD, couples counselor, trainer, Victoria, BC

"I can't imagine anyone in a serious relationship who wouldn't have a need for your book."

        — J. Steven Cowen, Certified Financial Planner

"The Couples Contract for a Lasting Relationship should be required reading for couples."

        — Mary Heléne Rosenbaum,
            executive director of the Dovetail Institute for Interfaith Family Resources,
            editor of Dovetail: A Journal by and for Jewish/Christian Families

"Financial issues are the cause of more than 50% of all relationship failures. That's why this book is a must-read for couples, therapists and financial advisors. Following the wisdom in these pages will save relationships."

        — William C. Cuthbertson, MBA, CFP, The Fiscalis Group

"The Couples' Contract is a creative resource for all couples. It is a wake-up call to all couples to be proactive in defining the terms of their union. The book also gives therapists a clear, goal-directed way to bring up challenging issues with loving partners who may be uneasy discussing anxiety-creating issues. No therapist should be without a copy of this resource. In fact, I will keep extra copies on hand to give to my clients."

        — Ellyn Bader, PhD, cofounder of The Couples Institute

"Counselors, attorneys, mediators and their clients can benefit from The Couples Contract for a Lasting Relationship. This book offers a plan for working through the issues that tear people apart. Pre-marital counselors would find particular benefit in working through the book with those planning to marry, but those helping couples being pulled apart would also find it useful. Life is made up of many little things, none of which matter much, but which can add up to irreconcilable differences. This book can help people navigate those waters. Kudos to Sherman and Janke."

        — Prof. Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, MDiv, JD, Fresno Pacific University

"The Couples Contract for a Lasting Relationship is filled with valuable insights and practical tools for couples today."

        — Georgia Shaffer, Psychologist, Life Coach, author

"If having a loving, open, honest, committed relationship is your number one priority, this book is a must-read! Every couple who commits the time and energy to create their own Couples Contract will enhance their relationship now and in the future as well."

        — Mary Dee Dickerson, Ph.D., CFP, author of Grow Your Goals

"As authors and workshop leaders who for 30 years have taught ways to bring more love into relationships, at first we had reservations about a relationship contract for couples. Then we read the book and understood that this is not a traditional legal contract about power and control, but a tool designed to cultivate, preserve and protect the highest love between two persons. We highly recommend this book!"

        — Barry Vissell, MD and Joyce Vissell, RN, MS, authors of The Shared Heart,
            The Heart's Wisdom, and Meant To Be

"Unlike so many books that help couples divorce, this book provides a refreshing idea for enhancing the relationship and affirming their commitment. I will be referring my clients to this book."

        — Maureen C. Kenny, PhD, Psychologist, co-chair Publications Committee, American Counseling Association

"I have already referred one young couple to the book and look forward to having it as a resource for my clients and friends."

        — Sharon Rich, Ed.D., Financial Planner, founder of PridePlanners

"The Couples Contract is an excellent tool that encourages couples to make a commitment to their plans, values and desires. It also helps anticipate problems and provides a framework for addressing any differences that might ever arise. I would recommend this book to all my clients who are in a serious personal relationship."

        — Herbert K. Daroff, J.D., CFP, Investment Advisor

"Written in a common-sense, easy to understand style, The Couple's Contract for a Lasting Relationship is an essential guide for any couple contemplating a committed relationship. Taking couples by the hand, this book helps them think through and clarify some of the most important decisions they will ever make. In the process, they will not only gain a better understanding of their own core values, but create the opportunity to deepen their couple's relationship as well. I will make sure that every couple I work with who is heading toward a serious relationship reads this book."

        — Nancy J. Ross, LCSW, Therapist, Mediator,
            Co-founder of Collaborative Divorce