The Effectiveness of Marriage Registration in Ensuring Legal Certainty for Families: An Empirical Study in Kuripan Village, Bogor Regency, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v4i3.1298Keywords:
Marriage Registration, Legal Effectiveness, Unregistered Marriage (Nikah Siri), Legal Awareness, Public ServicesAbstract
Marriage registration plays a pivotal role in establishing legal certainty and safeguarding the rights of family members. Despite its legal significance, the practice of unregistered marriage (nikah siri) continues to occur in Kuripan Village, Ciseeng District, Bogor Regency. This research seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of marriage registration, explore the determinants of community compliance, and assess the legal as well as social consequences arising from unregistered marriages. An empirical legal research design incorporating a socio-legal perspective was employed in this study. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, direct field observations, and documentary review involving officials from the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama), village administrators, religious figures, and local residents. The collected data were examined using qualitative analysis to understand the implementation of marriage registration and the factors shaping its effectiveness. The findings indicate a positive trend in marriage registration rates in Kuripan Village between 2022 and 2024, accompanied by a reduction in the incidence of unregistered marriages. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of marriage registration remains constrained by several factors, including economic limitations, inadequate legal awareness, administrative complexities, and prevailing socio-cultural influences. Unregistered marriages generate various adverse consequences, such as legal ambiguity, insufficient protection of women’s and children’s rights, obstacles in obtaining civil documentation, and limited access to public services. To address these challenges, efforts should focus on strengthening legal literacy programs, enhancing the accessibility and quality of public services, simplifying administrative requirements, and fostering cooperation among governmental agencies, religious leaders, and community stakeholders. The study concludes that the successful implementation of marriage registration is determined not only by the existence of legal provisions but also by the level of public legal consciousness and the effectiveness of service delivery mechanisms.
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