ive been able to get nested attributes to work before. but only with a has_many Im having problems with hidden fields and nested attributes model - owner.rb belongs_to :ticket belongs_to :employee model - ticket.rb belongs_to :owner, :class => ''Owner'' accepts_nested_attributes_for :owner, :allow_destroy => true controller - tickets_controller.rb def new @ticket = Ticket.new @ticket.owner.build respond_to do |format| format.html # new.html.erb format.xml { render :xml => @ticket } end end tickets view - new.html.erb <% form_for(@ticket) do |f| %> <%= f.error_messages %> <p> <%= f.label :subject %><br /> <%= f.text_field :subject %> </p> <p> <%= f.label :description %><br /> <%= f.text_area :description, :rows => 10, :cols => 48 %> </p> <p> <%= f.label :due_date %><br /> <%= f.text_field :due_date, :id => ''ticket_date_select'' %> </p> <p> <%= f.label :ticket_status_id, "Set Ticket Status" %><br /> <%= collection_select(:ticket, :ticket_status_id, TicketStatus.all, :id, :status_type)%> </p> <p> <%= f.label :priority_id, "Ticket Priority" %><br /> <%= collection_select(:ticket, :priority_id, Priority.all, :id, :priority_type)%> </p> <% f.fields_for :owner do |owner_form|%> <%= owner_form.hidden_field :ticket_id, :value => @ticket.id %> <%= owner_form.hidden_field :employee_id, :value => current_employee.id %> <% end %> <p> <%= f.submit ''Create'' %> </p> <% end %> Basically im trying to set the ticket_id and employee_id in the owner join model. any help on what im doing wrong?