<![CDATA[Unregistered marriage (nikah siri) remains a common phenomenon in Indonesia as it is considered valid under religious law but is not officially recorded in accordance with national legal requirements. This condition raises legal issues, particularly regarding the legal status and civil rights of children born from such marriages. This study aims to examine the legal regulation concerning the status of children born from unregistered marriages and to analyze the legal protection of their civil rights within the framework of Indonesian positive law. This research employed a normative juridical method using statutory and conceptual approaches, supported by library research on legislation, court decisions, and relevant legal literature. The findings indicate that the absence of marriage registration weakens legal certainty regarding the child's administrative status and may hinder the fulfillment of civil rights, including legal recognition of the biological father, identity rights, inheritance rights, and access to public services. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Court Decision Number 46/PUU-VIII/2010 has strengthened legal protection by recognizing the possibility of a civil legal relationship between a child born outside a registered marriage and the biological father, provided that such relationship can be established through scientific evidence or other legally recognized means. Legal certainty regarding the child's civil rights may further be enhanced through marriage validation (isbat nikah) and the official registration of the marriage in accordance with applicable laws.]]>
