In reply to your letter about the problem of... who is
unable to locate the natural father of her fiancé we are glad to offer you the
following guidance:
The only circumstances under which parental consent
for Bahá'í marriage is not required are the following:
1. If the parent is dead.
2. If the parent has absented himself to the degree that he
can be adjudged legally dead.
3. If the parent is certified insane and therefore legally
incompetent to give consent
4. If the parent is a Covenant-breaker.
5. It is possible under Bahá'í Law, in certain very rare
cases, to recognize that a state of disownment exists. All such cases should be
referred to the Universal House of Justice.
The problem therefore is reduced to the simple question of
whether your National Assembly accepts that Miss...'s father-in-law elect
cannot be traced and therefore may, to your satisfaction, be presumed to be
legally dead. You should of course ascertain that Miss ... has made every
effort possible to trace her fiancé’s father.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 30 May 1971 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska;
compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)