Why so few exist
Most couples never use one, and Public Policy Lab’s vulnerability research found the same absence upstream: couples entering marriage without discussing how money would be managed, where they would live, or what would happen to work and study plans. The agreement is the mechanism that forces those conversations to happen before the marriage is finalised rather than at its breakdown.
What the standardised templates change
As part of the UNICEF Child and Family Well-Being programme, Public Policy Lab developed standardised, gender-sensitive marriage agreement templates covering financial rights and obligations, education and career pathways, family planning, domestic responsibilities, and dispute resolution, with versions for general, international, and inter-religion marriages. They are designed as a positive planning tool for the marriage, not a preparation for its failure.
Key facts
- Only 13 marriage agreements were registered in the Maldives between 2019 and 2025.
- Standardised marriage agreement templates developed under the Child and Family Well-Being programme cover finances, education and career, family planning, domestic responsibilities, and dispute resolution.
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