Legal Literacy - In this era of practicality, unregistered marriage (nikah siri) has become a topic that sometimes arises in Indonesian society, both at family dining tables and in serious discussions in coffee shops.

For some, unregistered marriage may sound like a quick and easy solution to various marital problems—from financial limitations to administrative complexities.

But, is unregistered marriage really a solution or just a gateway to new problems?

Express Solution or Shortcut to New Problems?

Unregistered marriage is often seen as a shortcut for couples who want to get married immediately without having to bother with official documents. Similar to ordering food at a drive-thru, the process is fast, instant, and satisfies the desire to get married immediately.

But, like fast food, what looks delicious at first may not be so healthy in the long run. When couples choose unregistered marriage, they may not realize they are preparing themselves for bigger problems in the future.

Because suddenly problems may arise related to inheritance, child custody, or other economic rights. Without legal recognition, women in unregistered marriages often lose the protection they should have.

What was initially intended as a solution turns into a time bomb ready to explode at any time. So, is unregistered marriage really a quick solution? Or just postponing bigger…