Courtship Protocol

Title: "Springtime Romance"

The King and Queen are surrogate parents for all who reside within this realm.

"Courting should not to be taken lightly."
"For many in here the heart does not distinguish this world from any other."

Courtship Guide

Members must be resident in the Realm for at least fourteen days before requesting permission to court.

1) New members who are already courting prior to joining the Realm, may continue their courtship provided it has been ongoing for at least seven days, otherwise the settling period will be adhered to.

If a man seeks courtship with someone not of the Realm then he must first seek permission of the Crown. If she is of another Realm, he must then also follow the rules of the Lady's Realm. Once permission has been granted, he must bring the Lady to Balearic Nexus and present her to the Court.

If a lady wishes to court outside the Realm, permission must be sought from the Crown before she may enter into the courtship. She must bring her suitor to the Court so that he may ask the head of household or the Crown for permission in the open Court.

2) Once a decision has been made to court, the man must come before the court to ask the head of the lady's household or the Crown for permission to court.

3) During the first five days of courtship the man must ask his lady's permission to link with her. Subsequently, he may link without permission. The linking is always undertaken by the man.

4) Marriage may be proposed and a wedding date may be set after completion of at least one month's courtship. The proposal is to be made after permission has been sought from the Crown in open Court.

5) Courtesy and politeness shall be in all things between them. Should a dispute arise, they should retire to a private area. Private rooms are to be reserved only for married couples with their spouses unless accompanied by another.

6) When in a room with others, courtesy and politeness should be extended to those present. A kiss of greeting and an embrace is permissable. Mushy stuff should be kept to IMs.

7) No one shall interfere in a proper courtship.

8) Be ye respectful of the privacy of others.

9) Keep yourselves faithful one to the other, for fidelity is the basis of a courtship.

10) One may only enter into one courtship at a time, and should that courtship fail, there must be a period of fourteen days before another courtship is sought.

11) A courtship may be dissolved by either party stating their wishes to the Crown. No reason need be given.

12) Before a marriage may end, dissolution needs to be granted by the Crown with both parties present. If one of the parties deserts, then dissolution will be granted after fourteen days of absence.

13) A marriage may be dissolved by only one of the parties, provided justification is given and this is borne out. Dissolution will only be given by the Crown.

14) When both parties are present, no reason need be given for dissolution of the marriage.