Register marriage locally after some years since married.

[wanderer]

We got married overseas to avoid he need to convert to the same religion. When we did this in the UK 3 years ago, we were told by the Indonesian embassy there that they no longer do any documents for marriage validation even though I told him that all the websites indicated we needed this document to be able to register back in Indonesia. Anyway, when we got back and tried to register at the capatan sipil they asked for this document and I explained what happened with the embassy. Being a Friday around 10:30 she wasn't very helpful so we gave up. I tried so many times with emails and phone calls to the Indonesia embassy in the UK and he insisted they could not help even if I couriered the original to them. This is why we let it lapse.

We have no immediate plans to buy any property but concerned about all these recent issues with couples living together in sin and they insist that our marriage, although fully legal from the UK, would be used as an excuse here to cause issues by insisting it was not registered in Indonesia. It makes matters worse because we are of different faith. She is Muslim and I am, well, nothing as far as I am concerned but born into a Christian faith. We have been together for over 9 years so we have a long term relationship behind and ahead of us planned.

Does anyone have any good companies or agents we could contact to get this resolved and try to register this marriage? I know I am likely to be hit with a fine but as long as the costs to do this are reasonable, I am willing to get it fixed.

 

[Jim69]

How long have you been back in Indonesia since you were married?

 

[wanderer]

3 1/2 years

 

[fastpitch17]

I don't understand why the Embassy/Consulate didn't process your marriage. They certainly do that. Do you have someone who could call them? It seems you keep getting the same person so perhaps if someone there could call them or visit them you could get some results.

 

[jstar]

There is a fine (not so big I remember) if you don't register your marriage at the Catatan Sipil within the foreseen timeframe. It has changed, by heart; from 1 year to 30 days.

Don't forget you're not considered to be married if no registration took place.

So what to do? If the Catatan Sipil won't budge now, a law suit. You will lose of course but it will get resolved.

 

[sumyunggai]

We were in this situation but 14.5 years, and there was no difficulty. You just need more patience and negotiation with the catatan sipil.

 

[jstar]

Patience=$$$ ??

 

[fastpitch17]

After 30 days, fine is up to 1 juta. or in a case we know of, Rp500,000 in an envelope if a fine is mentioned. I also know of one that was over 60 days late and when offered some cash the man refused it.