diff --git a/lib/couchrest/core/model.rb b/lib/couchrest/core/model.rb
index 463eed5..8ce8569 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/core/model.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/core/model.rb
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ module CouchRest
     class_inheritable_accessor :generated_design_doc
     class_inheritable_accessor :design_doc_slug_cache
     class_inheritable_accessor :design_doc_fresh
+    class_inheritable_accessor :validation_fields
 
     class << self
       # override the CouchRest::Model-wide default_database
@@ -171,6 +172,10 @@ module CouchRest
         self.default_obj = hash
       end
 
+      def validate *fields
+        self.validation_fields = fields.map {|f| f.to_s}
+      end
+
       # Automatically set <tt>updated_at</tt> and <tt>created_at</tt> fields
       # on the document whenever saving occurs. CouchRest uses a pretty
       # decent time format by default. See Time#to_json
@@ -444,12 +449,25 @@ module CouchRest
       !rev
     end
 
+    def valid?
+      self.invalid_fields.blank?
+    end
+
+    def invalid_fields
+      return [] unless self.validation_fields
+      check = self.validation_fields.clone
+      self.validation_fields.each do |c|
+        check.delete_if {|x| x == c } if !self[c].blank?
+      end
+      return check
+    end
+
     # Saves the document to the db using create or update. Also runs the :save
     # callbacks. Sets the <tt>_id</tt> and <tt>_rev</tt> fields based on
     # CouchDB's response.
     def save
       if new_record?
-        create
+        if self.valid? then create else return false end
       else
         update
       end