PERAN KANTOR URUSAN AGAMA DALAM MENANGANI PERNIKAHAN SIRI (STUDI DI KANTOR URUSAN AGAMA PURWOSARI)

This study comprehensively discusses the role of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) in dealing with the phenomenon of serial marriage, with a focus on the KUA of Purwosari District, Pasuruan Regency. Serial marriages that are legally valid but not registered by state law raise various administrative, social, and civil problems. The results of the study show that KUA has a strategic function in preventing, handling, and facilitating the settlement of serial marriages through three main approaches: educational, administrative, and social. In the preventive aspect, KUA Purwosari carries out intensive socialization of marriage law in collaboration with religious leaders, village governments, and educational institutions to increase public awareness about the importance of marriage registration. In the curative aspect, KUA plays a role as a facilitator in the isbat nikah process by providing procedural assistance, document administration, and pre- and post-legalization counseling, including in the Integrated Isbat Nikah program that has been held in Pasuruan Regency. In addition, KUA Purwosari also faces various obstacles, such as limited human resources, low community legal literacy, and socio-economic factors that make some residents still choose serial marriage. Nevertheless, KUA continues to strive to expand the reach of services through strengthening cross-agency collaboration, technology-based service innovation, and strengthening family development. This research emphasizes that the role of KUA is very vital in creating order in marriage administration and providing legal protection for the community, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children.