An example marriage contract

Marriage contracts typically contain the following elements:

1. The promise of matrimony
2. The constitution of the dowry and counter-prestations from the husband or his family
3. Arrangements for handing over the dowry
4. Details of the marriage celebration
5. Renunciation by the bride over future claims on the family patrimony

Preliminaries - who, what, when and why

Heading giving the type of contract - Capitulum Matrimonialum - and the names of parties - Caetana Allegro with maestro Covini. Below this is the date - 22 September 1731

Description of the parties to the contract. These are maestro Niccolo Allegri of the city of Foggia residing at present in Ascoli and maestro Giuseppe Covini of the city of Ascoli. Allegro acts in the name of his daughter Gaetana Allegro, who is described as a virgine in Capillis. This phrase, literally 'virgin with uncovered hair', was traditionally used for young women who had never been married.

A paragraph detailing the purpose of the contract. They are present before the notary to make pacts and Capitoli Matrimoniali for the marriage to be contracted between mastro Giuseppe Covini and Gaetana Allegro as follows. Mastro is a term of address used for artisans.