Family
Marriage law tied to religion, with Religious Courts for Muslims
The Marriage Law of 1974 requires marriage to be conducted according to the parties' religion, which in practice makes interfaith marriage very difficult and has produced a substantial body of workaround practice. Muslim family matters go to the Religious Courts (Pengadilan Agama) applying the Compilation of Islamic Law; others go to the District Courts.
Governing law
- Law No. 1 of 1974 on Marriage — As amended by Law No. 16 of 2019 (minimum age).
- Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI), 1991 — Applied by the Religious Courts.
In practice
Marriage is valid if performed according to the religion of the parties and registered. The minimum marriage age is 19 for both sexes following the 2019 amendment. Religious Courts have jurisdiction over Muslim marriage, divorce, inheritance and waqf. Polygamy is permitted for Muslim men only with court permission and existing wife's consent. Interfaith couples commonly marry abroad and register the foreign marriage, or one party formally converts — both routes have consequences worth advising on. The 2019 amendment raised the female minimum age from 16 to 19 following a Constitutional Court ruling.