diff --git a/pages/editfamily.php b/pages/editfamily.php
index e1ca639..999a3a5 100644
--- a/pages/editfamily.php
+++ b/pages/editfamily.php
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ if (empty($VARS['id']) || !$database->has('families', ['familyid' => $VARS['id']
                                                <?php
                                            }
                                            if (empty($item['optional'])) {
-                                               echo "required";
+                                               echo " required ";
                                            } ?>/>
                                        <?php } else if ($item['type'] == "select") { ?>
                                     <select class="form-control"
diff --git a/pages/viewfamily.php b/pages/viewfamily.php
index d195eba..c4aab9a 100644
--- a/pages/viewfamily.php
+++ b/pages/viewfamily.php
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ $family = (new Family())->load($famid);
                 ],
             ];
             foreach ($items as $i) {
+                if (empty($i['value'])) {
+                    continue;
+                }
                 ?>
                 <div class="list-group-item h5 mb-2">
                     <i class="<?php echo $i['icon']; ?>"></i> <?php
diff --git a/public/actions/submitmembership.php b/public/actions/submitmembership.php
index bd93af1..114ed32 100644
--- a/public/actions/submitmembership.php
+++ b/public/actions/submitmembership.php
@@ -33,22 +33,19 @@ if (!empty($_SESSION['familyid']) && $database->has("families", ['familyid' => $
     die("You took too long and were automatically logged out.  Please try again.");
 }
 
-$database->action(function($database) {
+$database->action(function ($database) {
     global $family, $renewal, $SETTINGS;
 
     try {
         $lastname = $_POST['familyname'];
-        $father = $_POST['fathername'];
-        $mother = $_POST['mothername'];
+        $father = $_POST['fathername'] ?? "";
+        $mother = $_POST['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);
@@ -83,7 +80,6 @@ $database->action(function($database) {
         $family->setState($state);
         $family->setZip($zip);
 
-
         $newsletter = $_POST['newsletter_method'];
         $membership_cost = 2500;
         if (empty($newsletter)) {
diff --git a/public/parts/signup.php b/public/parts/signup.php
index 31591f4..2336116 100644
--- a/public/parts/signup.php
+++ b/public/parts/signup.php
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ if (isset($_SESSION['familyid']) && $database->has('families', ['familyid' => $_
     $familyinfo = $database->get("families", ['familyname', 'phone', 'email', 'address', 'city', 'state', 'zip', 'father_name (fathername)', 'mother_name (mothername)', 'newsletter_method'], ['familyid' => $_SESSION['familyid']]);
     $children = $database->select("people", 'personid', ['familyid' => $_SESSION['familyid']]);
     $familyname = $familyinfo['familyname'];
-    $fathername = $familyinfo['fathername'];
-    $mothername = $familyinfo['mothername'];
+    $fathername = $familyinfo['fathername'] ?? "";
+    $mothername = $familyinfo['mothername'] ?? "";
     $streetaddress = $familyinfo['address'];
     $city = $familyinfo['city'];
     $state = $familyinfo['state'];
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ if (isset($_SESSION['familyid']) && $database->has('families', ['familyid' => $_
                             "name" => "fathername",
                             "maxlength" => 255,
                             "value" => $fathername,
-                            "error" => "Enter the father's name."
+                            "error" => "Enter the father's name.",
+                            "optional" => true
                         ],
                         [
                             "label" => "Mother's Name",
@@ -110,7 +111,8 @@ if (isset($_SESSION['familyid']) && $database->has('families', ['familyid' => $_
                             "name" => "mothername",
                             "maxlength" => 255,
                             "value" => $mothername,
-                            "error" => "Enter the mother's name."
+                            "error" => "Enter the mother's name.",
+                            "optional" => true
                         ],
                         [
                             "label" => "Street Address",
@@ -266,7 +268,10 @@ if (isset($_SESSION['familyid']) && $database->has('families', ['familyid' => $_
                                                    value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($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']; ?>"