In answer to your third question regarding the initiation of civil proceedings during the year of patience, there is no objection to either party doing this so that the waiting period required by Bahá’i Law runs concurrently with that required by civil law. As indicated in the enclosed correspondence, however, the Bahá’i divorce does not become effective until the period of waiting has been terminated.
- The Universal House of Justice (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated August 6, 1969, in Handbook for Local Spiritual Assemblies in Australia; included in 1998 edition of compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by US NSA)