Jewishandworking, you make an interesting point. In any case, when people break it off, it is only menschlech to sincerely verbalize to the aggrieved party that one is sorry. I fail to see why a contract is needed. my understanding from my friend whose son wrote the shtar, is that had the girl not received it, no shadchan would ever set her up again. Sorry, folks, but on so many levels this bothers me.
What if the parents are at fault for the shidduch breaking up, as happens SO often? Maybe the chosson’s mother who thought her sonny boy was too good for the kallah, should have to ask the kallah for mechilah. Maybe the kallah’s father who agreed to X number of dollars “kest” decided to renege, thus angering the chosson’s family. Maybe both sets of parents who fought like dogs during the wedding planning, should ask their CHILDREN for mechilah for ruining their future together. Or maybe it is NOBODY’S fault, it just did not work out.