diff --git a/action.php b/action.php
index 667e68d..28a9ad0 100644
--- a/action.php
+++ b/action.php
@@ -60,17 +60,14 @@ switch ($VARS['action']) {
 
             try {
                 $lastname = $VARS['familyname'];
-                $father = $VARS['fathername'];
-                $mother = $VARS['mothername'];
+                $father = $VARS['fathername'] ?? "";
+                $mother = $VARS['mothername'] ?? "";
 
                 if (empty($lastname)) {
                     errorBack("Enter a last name.");
                 }
-                if (empty($father)) {
-                    errorBack("Enter a father name.");
-                }
-                if (empty($mother)) {
-                    errorBack("Enter a mother name.");
+                if (empty($father) && empty($mother)) {
+                    errorBack("Enter the father and/or mother's name.");
                 }
 
                 $family->setName($lastname);
diff --git a/database.mwb b/database.mwb
index c859bfc..5999809 100644
Binary files a/database.mwb and b/database.mwb differ
diff --git a/lib/Family.lib.php b/lib/Family.lib.php
index be35c46..1b39263 100644
--- a/lib/Family.lib.php
+++ b/lib/Family.lib.php
@@ -139,11 +139,11 @@ class Family {
     }
 
     public function getFather(): string {
-        return $this->father;
+        return $this->father ?? "";
     }
 
     public function getMother(): string {
-        return $this->mother;
+        return $this->mother ?? "";
     }
 
     public function getPhone(): string {
diff --git a/pages/editfamily.php b/pages/editfamily.php
index 97387a2..e1ca639 100644
--- a/pages/editfamily.php
+++ b/pages/editfamily.php
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ if (empty($VARS['id']) || !$database->has('families', ['familyid' => $VARS['id']
                         "name" => "fathername",
                         "maxlength" => 255,
                         "value" => $family->getFather(),
-                        "error" => "Enter the father's name."
+                        "error" => "Enter the father's name.",
+                        "optional" => true
                     ],
                     [
                         "label" => "Mother's Name",
@@ -75,7 +76,8 @@ if (empty($VARS['id']) || !$database->has('families', ['familyid' => $VARS['id']
                         "name" => "mothername",
                         "maxlength" => 255,
                         "value" => $family->getMother(),
-                        "error" => "Enter the mother's name."
+                        "error" => "Enter the mother's name.",
+                        "optional" => true
                     ],
                     [
                         "label" => "Street Address",
@@ -241,7 +243,9 @@ if (empty($VARS['id']) || !$database->has('families', ['familyid' => $VARS['id']
                                                value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($item['value']); ?>"
                                                <?php
                                            }
-                                           ?>required />
+                                           if (empty($item['optional'])) {
+                                               echo "required";
+                                           } ?>/>
                                        <?php } else if ($item['type'] == "select") { ?>
                                     <select class="form-control"
                                             name="<?php echo $item['name']; ?>"