Index: Form.php
===================================================================
--- Form.php	(revision 9574)
+++ Form.php	(working copy)
@@ -1706,8 +1706,70 @@
         $name = substr($value, $start, $endPos - $start);
         return $name;
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * Removes array name from given array path
+     *
+     * Given a value such as foo[bar][baz], returns bar[baz].
+     * 
+     * @param  string $value 
+     * @param  string $name 
+     * @return string
+     */
+    protected function _removeArrayName($value, $name)
+    {
+        if (empty($value) || !is_string($value)) {
+            return $value;
+        }
 
+        if (strpos($value, $name) === 0) {
+            if (!strstr($value, '[')) {
+                return $value;
+            }
+
+            $endPos = strlen($value) - 1;
+            if (']' != $value[$endPos]) {
+                return $value;
+            }
+
+            $value = substr($value, strlen($name) + 1);
+        }
+
+        return $value;
+    }
+    
     /**
+     * Determine the value by walking the array using given array path.
+     *
+     * Given an array path such as foo[bar][baz], returns the value of the last
+     * element (in this case, 'baz').
+     * 
+     * @param  array $value 
+     * @param  string $arrayPath 
+     * @return string
+     */
+    protected function _dissolveArrayValue($value, $arrayPath)
+    {
+        // As long as we have more levels
+        while ($arrayPos = strpos($arrayPath, '[')) {
+            // Determine the next key in the path
+            $arrayKey = trim(substr($arrayPath, 0, $arrayPos), ']');
+
+            // Set the potentially final value or the next search point in the array
+            $value = $value[$arrayKey];
+            
+            // Set the next search point in the path
+            $arrayPath = trim(substr($arrayPath, $arrayPos + 1), ']');
+        }
+
+        if (isset($value[$arrayPath])) {
+            $value = $value[$arrayPath];
+        }
+
+        return $value;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Validate the form
      * 
      * @param  array $data 
@@ -1723,6 +1785,9 @@
         $valid      = true;
 
         if ($this->isArray()) {
+            $key = $this->getElementsBelongTo();
+            $data = $this->_dissolveArrayValue($data, $this->_removeArrayName($key, $this->getName()));
+
             $key = $this->_getArrayName($this->getElementsBelongTo());
             if (isset($data[$key])) {
                 $data = $data[$key];
Index: Form/Element.php
===================================================================
--- Form/Element.php	(revision 9574)
+++ Form/Element.php	(working copy)
@@ -1142,7 +1142,38 @@
         $this->_validators = array();
         return $this;
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * Determine the value by walking the array using given array path.
+     *
+     * Given an array path such as foo[bar][baz], returns the value of the last
+     * element (in this case, 'baz').
+     * 
+     * @param  array $value 
+     * @param  string $arrayPath 
+     * @return string
+     */
+    protected function _dissolveArrayValue($value, $arrayPath)
+    {
+        // As long as we have more levels
+        while ($arrayPos = strpos($arrayPath, '[')) {
+            // Determine the next key in the path
+            $arrayKey = trim(substr($arrayPath, 0, $arrayPos), ']');
 
+            // Set the potentially final value or the next search point in the array
+            $value = $value[$arrayKey];
+            
+            // Set the next search point in the path
+            $arrayPath = trim(substr($arrayPath, $arrayPos + 1), ']');
+        }
+
+        if (isset($value[$arrayPath])) {
+            $value = $value[$arrayPath];
+        }
+
+        return $value;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Validate element value
      *
@@ -1159,6 +1190,13 @@
      */
     public function isValid($value, $context = null)
     {
+        if (null === $value && (null !== ($belongsTo = $this->getBelongsTo()))) {
+            $data = $this->_dissolveArrayValue($context, $belongsTo);
+            if (isset($data[$this->getName()])) {
+                $value = $data[$this->getName()];
+            }
+        }
+
         $this->setValue($value);
         $value = $this->getValue();