A
man can betroth a woman either personally or through his agent. A woman
can accept kiddushin and become betrothed either personally or through
her agent. A man may give his daughter in betrothal when she is a
na'arah (under 12) either personally or through his agent. Performing
betrothal as well as any other mitzvah personally is the preferred way.
From
where in the Torah do we derive the legal concept of agency? From its
use of "and he sends her" instead of a more direct "and he divorces" we
learn that both man and woman can appoint an agent.
