The Spiritual Assembly may, if it is satisfied that there is
sufficient reason for doing so, establish the date for the beginning of the
year of waiting retroactively. Whether established retroactively or not the
date set for the beginning of the year of waiting cannot be prior to the last
date when the couple actually separated for the purpose of obtaining a divorce.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated September 26, 1972; published in the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada's Assembly Resource
Compilation, Reconciliation and Divorce, p. DIV-16; Developing Distinctive
Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)