When an application for divorce is made to a Spiritual
Assembly, its first thought and action should be to reconcile the couple and to
ensure that they know the Bahá'í teachings on the matter. God willing, the
Assembly will be successful and no year of waiting need be started. However, if
the Assembly finds that it is unable to persuade the party concerned to
withdraw the application for divorce, it must conclude that, from its point of
view, there appears to be an irreconcilable antipathy, and it has no
alternative to setting the date for the beginning of the year of waiting.
During the year the couple have the responsibility of attempting to reconcile
their differences, and the Assembly has the duty to help them and encourage
them. But if the year of waiting comes to an end without reconciliation the
Bahá'í divorce must be granted as at the date of the granting of the civil
divorce if this has not already taken place.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter date 6 May 1987
written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. I, Preserving Baha’i Marriages)
