What is the ruling on the marriage contract, and how does the father appoint an agent, and how does the agent pronounce the agency to the husband, in a situation where a man marries his maternal aunt's daughter while he is in another country and appoints an agent on his behalf, and the girl's father appoints an agent on his behalf and on behalf of his daughter for the marriage contract to be performed in the husband's country, and the witnesses are heard via phone or Skype?

A man is permitted to appoint an agent to accept his marriage. It suffices for him to say to the agent: "I appoint you as my agent to accept my marriage to so-and-so," or a phrase to that effect. The agent then proceeds to conduct the marriage contract with the woman's guardian in the presence of two witnesses, mentioning the principal's name within the text of the contract.

Similarly, a man may appoint the woman's father as an agent to accept the marriage, and the father then handles both sides of the contract. It is also permissible for the woman's guardian to appoint someone else to marry off his ward. The woman's permission is not required for the appointment of an agent, nor is witnessing the appointment.