<![CDATA[The enactment of Law No. 16 of 2019, which sets the minimum marriage age at 19 for both men and women, represents a state effort to prevent child marriage. However, applications for marriage dispensation continue to reflect persistent social and legal problems at the community level. This study aims to analyze the factors driving applications for marriage dispensation, the impacts of underage marriage on children, and the strategies implemented by the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) of Balung District to minimize such applications under Law No. 16 of 2019. This field study employed a qualitative approach. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation and analyzed descriptively and analytically. The findings indicate that applications for marriage dispensation are primarily driven by premarital pregnancy, low educational attainment, and family economic conditions, while social pressure to avoid family shame remains stronger than legal awareness of the minimum marriage age. Underage marriage produces multiple consequences, including social stigma, psychological distress, restricted social relationships, and permanent school dropout, potentially perpetuating intergenerational poverty. KUA strategies include premarital counseling, administrative guidance, and procedural compliance, strengthened through collaboration with community health centers, village midwives, schools, and community leaders. Nevertheless, their effectiveness remains limited because the final authority to grant marriage dispensation rests with the Religious Court]]>
