How To Obtain Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) in Indonesia

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the www.hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Various Documents Needed For Prospective Mixed Marriage Couples To Get Married In Indonesia", "Strategies for Filing a Divorce Lawsuits for Foreigners And Migrant Workers" read also "How To Married Indonesian Women Legally?", and on this occasion we will discuss about 'How To Obtain Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) in Indonesia?'

Term & Legal Basis

In general, Certificate of No Impediment acronym to CNI is a letter that explains that there is no obstacle for a person to get married. This letter is one of the requirements for marriage for foreign citizens in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, based on Article 57 of Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, what is meant by mixed marriage is marriage between two people in Indonesia subject to different laws due to differences in citizenship and one of the parties is an Indonesian citizen. In other words, what is meant by mixed marriage according to Indonesian law (Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage) is a marriage between a citizen and a foreign citizen.[1]

Requirement

The application to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) is submitted to the Embassy of the foreigner concerned. Several requirement in common are:

1. Birth certificate;
2. ID Card;
3. Passport;
4. Certificate of dissolution of marriage, if the foreigner has been married and divorced. Death Certificate for the bride and groom who are widows/widowers;
5. Proof of residence or domicile letter;
6. Ect.

With the issuance of the Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) from the related embassy, the marriages between Indonesian citizens and foreigners carried out according to Indonesian law will be considered valid and legally recognized by both law the foreigner law and Indonesian law.

Procedure

In this article, an example will be given of the procedure for obtaining a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) at the 'A' Embassy in Jakarta - Indonesia:[2]

• Make an appointment by phone with the consular department at least 1 day prior;
• Then come to the Consular Section of the relevant Embassy according to the schedule given;
• The foreign prospective bride then fills out the application form and signs the Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) form in front of the consular officer;
• The foreign prospective bride then submit supporting data as required.

And if you have difficulty to obtain Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) for getting married in Indonesia, contact us, we will be happy to help you. 

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

References:

1. "Various Documents Needed For Prospective Mixed Marriage Couples To Get Married In Indonesia", www.hukumindo.com., Diakses pada tanggal 24 Februari 2022, https://www.hukumindo.com/2022/02/various-documents-needed-for-mixed.html

2. "Certificate of No Impediment", www.ilalanggrass.com., Diakses pada tanggal 24 Februari 2022, https://www.ilalanggrass.com/2012/04/certificate-of-no-impediment-to.html

Various Documents Needed For Prospective Mixed Marriage Couples To Get Married In Indonesia

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Procedure in Obtaining Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK) in Indonesia", "Strategies for Filing a Divorce Lawsuits for Foreigners And Migrant Workers" read also "How To Married Indonesian Women Legally?", and on this occasion we will discuss about 'Various Documents Needed For Prospective Mixed Marriage Couples To Get Married In Indonesia.'

For couples who are getting married, various preparations related to the wedding will certainly take up a lot of their time. There are many things that must be prepared from the start, including the fulfillment of various mandatory requirements to carry out the marriage itself.[1]

For those who are married to Indonesian citizens (WNI) this may be done in a fairly short time, considering the various requirements requested will also not be too complicated. However, for couples who marry from different countries (WNI and WNA), a number of requirements will be a little more complicated and will take a long time to prepare, considering that various documents from both countries will be required for this.[2]

Marriage between Indonesian citizens and foreigners will require a number of processes that are quite long, because the processing of various marriage documents will be carried out in the two countries of the spouses concerned. Things like this certainly deserve special attention, before finally choosing the time and also various other preparations related to the wedding later.[3]

Legal Basis

Marriage of different nationalities is no longer a foreign thing that occurs in the midst of the times. This is also influenced by the development of communication technology which no longer makes distance and time differences an obstacle. The mobilization of humans themselves as social beings contributes to the number of marriages of different nationalities becoming increasingly common. Seeing that marriage no longer considers differences in citizenship, there are several regulations that must be followed and documents that must be fulfilled so that an Indonesian citizen (WNI) can register his marriage with a foreign citizen (WNA) in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.[4]

In Indonesia, based on Article 57 of Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, what is meant by mixed marriage is marriage between two people in Indonesia subject to different laws due to differences in citizenship and one of the parties is an Indonesian citizen.[5] In other words, what is meant by mixed marriage according to Indonesian law (Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage) is a marriage between a citizen and a foreign citizen.

Various Documents Needed for Prospective Mixed Marriage Couples In Indonesia

There are so many documents that you have to prepare. Some have existed and remain part of the terms. Several documents must be obtained from the relevant government agencies. Some other documents require treatment such as legalization.

Documents for Indonesian Citizens[5]

1. RT/RW cover letter stating that there are no obstacles to getting married;
2. Forms N1, N2, and N4 obtained from Kelurahan (Village) and Kecamatan (Sub District);
3. Special N3 form for married couples at Kantor Urusan Agama or Religious Affairs Office (signed by both prospective spouses);
4. Photocopy of ID card;
5. Photocopy of Birth Certificate;
6. Data on the parents of the prospective bride and groom for Indonesian citizens;
7. Photocopy of Family Card (KK);
8. Parents' Marriage Book (if the prospective Indonesian citizen is the first child);
9. Data of two witnesses to the marriage along with a photocopy of their ID card;
10. 2×3 (4 sheets) and 4×6 (4 sheets) photographs;
11. The latest proof of PBB (Earth Building Tax) Payment, if required.
12. In addition, several documents are required for spouses of Indonesian citizens as a condition for their spouses who are foreign citizens.

Documents for Foreign Nationals[6]

1. Certificate of No Impediment (CNI), which is a certificate stating that you can marry and will marry an Indonesian citizen, this letter is issued by the competent authority in the country, such as the Embassy;
2. Photocopy of identity card from country of origin;
3. Copy of Passport;
4. Photocopy of birth certificate;
5. Certificate of not being married;
6. Divorce certificate if you have been married;
7. Spouse's death certificate (if the previous spouse has died);
8. Current domicile certificate;
9. 2x3 (4 sheets) and 4×6 (4 sheets) photographs;
10. Marriage form from the relevant Embassy.

Just a note, people usually need spend of time to collect documents from their foreign spouse. This is because the documents must be processed between two countries, which of course takes energy and time. Do not let the documents you need are incomplete but you have already determined the date of the wedding reception, or you have already spread the wedding invitations, some even already ordered catering and bridal makeup. This is fatal, you will be in trouble if this happens. And if you have difficulty for getting married in Indonesia, contact us, we will be glad to help you. 

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

References:

1. "Ini Dia Syarat Mengurus Pernikahan WNI dan WNA", www.cermati.com., Diakses pada tanggal 23 Februari 2022, https://www.cermati.com/artikel/ini-dia-syarat-mengurus-pernikahan-wni-dan-wna

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. "Dokumen Wajib Untuk Menikah dengan WNA di Indonesia", bahasan.id., Diakses pada tanggal 23 Februari 2022, https://bahasan.id/dokumen-wajib-untuk-menikah-dengan-wna-di-indonesia/

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

Procedure in Obtaining Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK) in Indonesia

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Why You Need Contract Review Before Entering the Agreement?", read also "The Example of Official Police Report Receipt in Indonesia", and on this occasion we will discuss about 'Procedure in Obtaining Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK) in Indonesia'.

Term and Legal Basis

Police Clearance Certificate (Indonesian acronym: SKCK) is an official document issued by the Indonesian Police for specific purposes which requires background clearance and biodata of a certain person. SKCK is regulated under Law Number 2 Year 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police and Regulation of Chief of Indonesian National Police Number 18 Year 2014 concerning the Procedures to Issue SKCK.[1]

SKCK can be issued to an Indonesian National and a Foreign National. Foreign national who is eligible for SKCK are those currently holding or had ever hold a Permanent Stay Permit (Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap / KITAP) or a Temporary Stay Permit (Kartu Izin Tinggal Sementara / KITAS). Holder of other types of visas such as visit visa, multiple-entry visit visa, or visa on arrival, is not eligible to be issued SKCK. Indonesian National Police is the only government body which has the full authority to issue SKCK.[2]

The Purposes

This Police certificate in Indonesia is particularly important for foreigners starting a business, working in the country, or other immigration purposes. This is because it serves as proof that foreigners have no previous criminal actions or have not committed any crimes that can be harmful to the workplace, the communities, and the entire society.[3]

Before foreign individuals can start working, staying, and living in Indonesia, the Indonesian government will require foreigners to show a police clearance certificate. In other words, a police certificate is one of the deciding factors if a foreigner’s residency permit will be approved.[4]

The purpose of this certificate is to review and confirm the criminal records or criminal history of all local and foreign individuals.[5]

Procedure

The procedure for obtaining this letter is generally divided into two, the first is for Indonesian citizens and the second is for foreigners. In this article we will focus on Process for non Citizens of Indonesia, for both who live in Indonesia and overseas:[6]

If you apply in Indonesia, you may apply in-person or through representative. Apply in-person:

1. Certificate of Good Conduct - Indonesian Police Certificates (Surat Keterangan Catatan Kepolisian (SKCK)) issued by the National Police through the intelligence function.
2. Applicant shall apply in-person with the police station authority in area where they live.
3. Link for police station contact: national police please select the concerned region from the drop down menu against “Choose the name of the police station” in the page to locate the office.
4. Go to the respective office. Don’t forget to take the required copy of documents along with originals to the office.
5. Please follow as per authorities guidelines and submit the completed application along with documents. Applicant should pay for any charges, if required as advised.
6. This application will be processed by respective department.
7. The certificate can be collected from the office where applicant applied in person upon notification or issued as per norms.

You may also apply through representative as follows:

1. Applicant shall appoint a representative to apply on his behalf at the police station office.
2. Link for police station contact: National Police please select the concerned region from the drop down menu against “Choose the name of the police station” in the page to locate the office.
3. Representative has to go to the respective police station office. Don’t forget to take the required copy of documents along with originals.
4. Please follow as per authorities guidelines and submit the completed application along with documents. Representative should pay for any charges if required as advised.
5. This application will be processed by respective department.
6. The certificate can be collected from the office where applicant applied in-person upon notification or issued as per norms. Note: The representative should apply with the following documents of: ID card or passport, and Family card.

Applying overseas: 

1. Applicant can apply at their nearest embassy or consulate in person. Link to locate the embassy or consulate: Ministry of foreign Affairs.
2. Call the office and fix appointment for personal visit. Also find out the details for this procedure.
3. On the scheduled date, go to the office with all the document in original and in copy. Please follow as per officer guidelines to process your application.
4. Accepted application will be processed by the respective department. The completed certificates are forwarded to the concern.
5. Applicant shall collect the certificate with the respective office upon notification or can get it delivered as per norms applicable.

Required documents for foreign national:[7]

1. A copy of your passport while living in Indonesia.
2. A copy of your permit of stay in Indonesia, passport number and place of issue as well.
3. Copies of your passport page with your Indonesia visa or of the document with address in Indonesia.
4. Application letter from sponsor, company, or institution that employs, uses, or is responsible for foreigners.
5. Photocopy of KTP and Marriage Certificate if the sponsor is a Spouse of an Indonesian Citizen.
6. Photocopy of Passport.
7. Photocopy of Limited Stay Permit Card (KITAS) or Permanent Stay Permit Card (KITAP).
8. Photocopy of IMTA from KEMENAKER RI.
9. Photocopy of Reporting Certificate (STM) from the Police.
10. 6 (six) pieces of 4 x 6 cm color photographs with a yellow background, modestly dressed, face-to-face, and for applicants wearing hijab, a photo must be in full face.

And if you have a difficulties regarding this topic, contact us, feel free in 24 hours, we will be glad to help you.

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

References:

1. "Police Clearance Certificate", kemlu.go.id., Diakses pada tanggal 22 Februari 2022, https://kemlu.go.id/wellington/en/pages/surat_keterangan_catatan_kepolisian/2706/etc-menu

2. Ibid.

3. "How to Obtain Police Clearance Certificate Indonesia", www.cekindo.com., Diakses pada tanggal 22 Februari 2022, https://www.cekindo.com/blog/obtain-police-clearance-certificate-indonesia 

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid. 

6. "Obtain Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct)", wikiprocedure.com., Diakses pada tanggal 22 Februari 2022, https://wikiprocedure.com/index.php/Indonesia_-_Obtain_Police_Clearance_Certificate_(Certificate_of_Good_Conduct)

7. Ibid.

Why You Need Contract Review Before Entering the Agreement?

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Luxury Car Owner Sues Neighbor To The Court For Cat Scratches", read also "I Have a Contract Whose Goods Have Not Been Delivered, How Do I Sue Under Indonesian Law?", and on this occasion we will discuss about 'Why You Need Contract Review Before Entering the Agreement?'

Legal Term

The word "review" in Indonesian can be found in its equivalent in the words checking or considering. In this short article, the word 'review' is deliberately kept, assuming this word is already quite commonly used. The difference between reviewing an agreement and making an agreement is that when we make an agreement, we design the agreement from nothing. Meanwhile, by reviewing the agreement, it means that we review the concept of an existing agreement that has not been signed, after it has been reviewed and agreed upon by the parties, the agreement will be signed.[1]

Purposes of Contract Review

There are several purposes for contract reviewing:[2]

1. To ensure that all the objectives and will of the parties have been entered into the agreement, so there are no more changes or additions.
2. To ensure that the contract has fulfilled the legal requirements of the agreement, does not conflict with the laws and regulations, propriety, and public order.
3. To ensure that the contract does not contain elements of coercion, fraud, and oversight.
4. So that the parties avoid the risk of loss or disputes in the future due to errors in writing or interpreting the contents of the contract.

The Steps for Reviewing The Agreement

Technically, here are the steps for reviewing an agreement:[3]

1. Create an agreed process flow scheme so that it will be easy to see the rights and obligations of each party.
2. Pay attention to the validity of the legal subject in the comparison section of the agreement. Incorrectly mentioning the legal subject who is authorized to sign the agreement can be very fatal consequences.
3. Paying attention to the relationship between the legal subject and the legal object of the contract.
4. Pay attention to the rights and obligations of each signatory of the agreement, especially the rights and obligations of your client.
5. Pay attention to the use of sentences (not contain multiple interpretations).
6. Cross check with existing and latest regulations to find out whether the agreement is contrary to applicable law (especially for the agreed material/object). For this, advocate is required to update its knowledge of the applicable legal regulations.
7. Request an explanation from a credible source regarding the agreed material, if necessary.
8. Hold a meeting with the other party who will sign the agreement.

The Role of Advocates in Contract Review

The roles and functions of advocates in reviewing or analyzing an agreement are as follows:[4]

1. The party who will make the contract can consult with advocate regarding the contents of the contract and how to draw up a good and correct contract so as to avoid legal risks and losses in the coming days.
2. Requesting an advocate to review the contract that has been made in accordance with the aims and objectives of the parties and to avoid the risk of loss and disputes in the coming days.

And if you about to enter an agreement, you or your company may invite us to review before you sign it, contact us, feel free in 24 hours, we will be glad to help you.

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

References:

1. "TUGAS MEREVIEW PERJANJIAN OLEH BAGIAN LEGAL PERUSAHAAN", business-law.binus.ac.id., Diakses pada tanggal 17 Februari 2022, https://business-law.binus.ac.id/2016/05/05/tugas-mereview-perjanjian-oleh-bagian-legal-perusahaan/

2. "Review / Analisa Resiko Perjanjian / Kontrak", www.advosquare.com., Diakses pada tanggal 17 Februari 2022, https://www.advosquare.com/solusi-hukum/review-analisa-resiko-perjanjian-kontrak#

3. Op. Cit., business-law.binus.ac.id.

4. Op. Cit., www.advosquare.com.

Luxury Car Owner Sues Neighbor To The Court For Cat Scratches

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "What Next After The Police Report Is Accomplish?", read also "I Have a Contract Whose Goods Have Not Been Delivered, How Do I Sue Under Indonesian Law?", and on this occasion we will discuss about 'Luxury Car Owner Sues Neighbor To The Court For Cat Scratches'. This article is entirely quoted from the Thai online media "Thetiger.com" with the title: 'Cat sits on sports car, owner demands 100,000 baht to pay for scratches', as quoted in the reference at the end of the article.

The owner of a luxury sports car has reportedly filed a lawsuit against their neighbor claiming 100,000 bath (equal to US $ 3.090 or Rp. 44.080.197,70) in damages after a cat climbed and sat on top of their black and yellow Lotus sports car, causing some scratches. The story was widely shared in Thailand and the latest reports say the owner has since apologized, adding that he doesn’t want the money.

The cat owner posted a video on TikTok saying her neighbor demanded compensation for letting a “fierce or wild animal” out in public and causing damage to others’ assets or property. She added that she is willing to pay to fix up the scratches caused by her cat, but at a reasonable price.

The neighbors have been trying to come to an agreement for a while. Reports say the incident happened back in October 2020 when a child accidentally let their cat out of the house. That afternoon, the car owner sent the neighbors a video of their pet sitting on the sports car. Video from a home surveillance camera shows the cat sitting on top of the black and yellow sports car.

She and the family visited the house to check out the damage on the cars and say they only saw dirt from the cat’s paws. The neighbor insisted that all of the scratches came from her cat and asked for compensation at 100,000 baht adding that the price was officially estimated.

She shared with Thai media that her family have been trying to come to an agreement with the neighbor. She already paid a fine of 500 baht at a Police station for letting a pet out to the public alone and has gone to court twice. Apparently, the neighbor has never shown up in court and has continued to go to their house asking for money. And if you intend to sue a person or company due to a legal problem, contact us, feel free in 24 hours, we will be glad to help you.

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

Reference:

1. "Cat sits on sports car, owner demands 100,000 baht to pay for scratches", thethaiger.com., Diakses pada tanggal 16 Februari 2022, https://thethaiger.com/news/national/cat-sits-on-sports-car-owner-demands-100000-baht-to-pay-for-scratches

What Next After The Police Report Is Accomplish?

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Some Tips Before You Choose an Attorneys", read also "The Example of Official Police Report Receipt in Indonesia", read also "How to Open a Police Report in Indonesia?", "What's The Difference Between Police Report and Public Complaint?", "Is it Possible to Open a Police Report in Indonesia By Hiring Authorized Attorney?". And on this occasion we will discuss about 'What Next After The Police Report Is Accomplish?'.

Governing Law On Police Report

Article 1 Law Number: 8 of 1981 concerning Criminal Procedure Code ("KUHAP") provides a definition of the Report as follows: "Report is a notification submitted by a person who, because of his rights or obligations under the law, to an authorized official regarding, has or is currently or is suspected of having a criminal event." Those who have the right to submit reports are people who have experienced, seen, witnessed or become victims of events that constitute criminal acts, either orally or in writing.[1]

In relation to this article, then your position as a foreigner who is in Indonesia is as a victim of a crime committed by someone else against you. Procedural law (Law Number: 8 of 1981 concerning Criminal Procedure Code ("KUHAP")) in Indonesia protects you by providing you with the right to report a crime you have experienced to the relevant Police institution.[2] Thus, basically everyone who experiences, sees, witnesses or even becomes a victim of a crime, has the right to report the crime to the Police.

What Next After The Police Report Is Accomplish?

After your Police report is received by the Police Officer at the relevant Police Station in Indonesia, then as proof of the report, the Police officer will provide a Police Report receipt. For more details regarding this matter, please read our article entitled: "The Example of Official Police Report Receipt in Indonesia". This proves that the criminal incident report that you report to the Police will be handled immediately.

After the Police report was completed, the due process of law had just begun. The Police will then carry out the Penyelidikan (research) and Penyidikan (investigation) process. What is meant by the process of Penyelidikan (research) and Penyidikan (investigation)?

Article 1 paragraph 5 of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) reads as follows:[3]

"Penyelidikan (research) is a series of investigators' actions to seek and find an event that is suspected of being a criminal act in order to determine whether or not an investigation can be carried out according to the method regulated in this law."

Article 1 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) reads as follows:[4]

"Penyidikan (investigation) is a series of actions by an investigator in terms of and according to the method regulated in this law to seek and collect evidence which with that evidence makes clear about the criminal act that occurred and in order to find the suspect".

In simple terms what is meant by Penyelidikan (research) is the process carried out by the Police to determine whether an incident can be investigated or not. After an event meets the requirements for an Penyelidikan (research), it is then upgraded to an Penyidikan (investigation) process, with the aim of collecting evidences and finding the crime suspect. And if you have any difficulties regarding this topic, contact us, feel free in 24 hours, we will be glad to help you.

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

References:

1. "How to Open a Police Report in Indonesia?", www.hukumindo.com., Diakses pada tanggal 15 Februari 2022, https://www.hukumindo.com/2021/10/how-to-open-police-report-in-indonesia.html

2. Ibid.

3. Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Acara Pidana (KUHAP);

4. Ibid.

Some Tips Before You Choose an Attorneys

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Variety of Fees When You Hired an Attorneys in Indonesia", read also "How To Check The Validity of Indonesian Advocates?", "What Legal Ties Underlie The Relationship Between The Client and The Lawyer?", and on this occasion we will discuss about 'Some Tips Before You Choose an Attorneys'.

Choosing a lawyer to take care of your legal problems can be tricky. This is due to the relatively large stock of lawyers in Indonesia, especially in big cities like Jakarta. There is even a joke that there are more lawyers' offices in Jakarta's economic center triangle (Sudirman-Kuningan-Thamrin) than tire repairmen. In choosing a lawyer, here are some tips from the Hukumindo.com platform.

Check His/Her Validity As an Advocate

The profession of advocate in Indonesia is regulated in Law Number: 18 of 2003 concerning Advocates. In Indonesia, advocate is defined as: "Advocate is a person whose profession is to provide legal services, both inside and outside the court, who meet the requirements and based on the provisions of the Law on Advocates".[1]

Based on the provisions of Articles 2 and 3 of Law Number: 18 of 2003 concerning Advocates, there are several legal products related to proving someone as an advocate:[2]

1. Letter of Appointment as an Advocate (Issued by advocate organization); and
2. Certificate of Oath as an Advocate (Issued by Head of the relevant Provincial High Court);
3. Advocate membership card (Issued by advocate organization).

When you are in Indonesia and have the intention to use legal services through an advocate, it is very important to choose a legally-valid lawyer. Checking the advocate validity you will choose becomes a necessary so that there will be no losses occur in the future. So, its alright to ask your advocate about their validity such as: (a). Letter of Appointment as an Advocate, (b). Certificate of Oath as an Advocate and (c). Advocate membership card, for your safety.[3] This is done to ensure that the person you choose is legally valid to carry out the profession as an advocate. The benefit is that you will avoid the practice of middlemen and professional fraud.

Check Your Legal Issue

First, check the weight of the legal problem you are facing. If you are facing a death penalty charge for drug smuggling, then you are in serious legal trouble. When compared to previous legal issues, the charges for corruption that are stalking you will feel lighter. Or maybe you are being stalked with a bankruptcy lawsuit that strips you of all your assets, it feel lighter than the previous one. Or maybe you are facing family problems because your spouse wants a divorce and take away all your children? It feel lighter than the last.

Of course you know how heavy or light a legal problem you are facing, but when you choose a lawyer to assist you in solving this legal problem, this grade of 'weight' problem will determine.

Check His/Her Core Competent

Advocates in Indonesia are commonly generalists. They handle almost all cases, from criminal to civil. It would be better if you choose an advocate who has a core competent. Such advocates will more easily understand your legal problems and offer solutions that have become their daily food when practicing. 

In Indonesia, advocates have started to pioneer the specificity of their profession, some focusing on bankruptcy, corruption, civil litigation, family law, sharia economic, company law, intellectual property rights and so on. 

Check His/Her Flight Hours

Check how long he has been appointed as an advocate. Even further, check since when he has been in the world of legal services. Has he ever organized while he was a student? Or had he had an apprenticeship before being appointed as a lawyer? 

The longer he/she is in the world of lawyers, the better his flying hours will be. Check where he/she used to work to gain knowledge, law offices where he/she worked previously will shape his/her character and flying hours. And of course, asked what cases he/she had handled mostly, the more cases he/she handled certain similar cases, the better his/her competence would be.

Check His/Her Reputation

You can find complete information about the lawyer you will hire by using technology online or by calling your local bar association. Currently, with the massive internet, you can find initial information about the advocate you will hire on the Internet, from bio data, alma mater, cases he has handled, and so on. Or you can ask the reputation of a lawyer, if you get a certain recommendation from someone else, by asking to that person. 

Meet Your Candidate

This is the last tip from us, meet your prospective lawyer. Feel the chemistry. Feel the aura. By meeting, potential advocates can also assess your seriousness in hiring them. You can also judge many things from your potential advocate.

Meet, there's nothing wrong with having coffee and chatting with potential advocates and potential clients. If you have chemistry, then of course it will be followed by the signing of a power of attorney and a legal service agreement. After that, lets run the case.

You can add other things such as the price, the outfit he wears, or other things that are important to you. But in our opinion, the things above are quite important for you to pay attention to. Check the things above before you sign the power of attorney and legal service agreement. And if you have any issue with this topic, contact us, feel free in 24 hours, we will be glad to help you.

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

_________________

References:

1. "How To Check The Validity of Indonesian Advocates?", www.hukumindo.com., Diakses pada tanggal 10 Februari 2022, https://www.hukumindo.com/2021/10/how-to-check-validity-of-indonesian.html

2. Ibid. 

3. Ibid.

Variety of Fees When You Hired an Attorneys in Indonesia

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Adoption According to the Sharia Law", read also "How To Check The Validity of Indonesian Advocates?", "What Legal Ties Underlie The Relationship Between The Client and The Lawyer?", and on this occasion we will discuss about ''Variety of Fees When You Hired an Attorneys in Indonesia".

When you decide to hire an advocate, one of the logical consequences is the cost. Advocates is not Marvel Super Heroes with free services to battle the crime, an advocate is a professional, this profession works to resolve any of the legal matters that you are currently facing. And in carrying out its work requires energy, and energy incurs costs. In this article, we will discuss the various types of advocate fees, the various factors that influence the level of attorney fees and the payment scheme method.

There Are No Fixed Standards Regarding Attorneys Fees in Indonesia

Article 21 paragraph (2) of Law no. 18 of 2003 concerning Advocates reads as follows:[1]

"1. Advocates are entitled to receive an honorarium for legal services that have been provided to their clients.

2. The amount of the Honorarium for Legal Services as referred to in paragraph (1) is determined fairly based on the agreement of both parties".

Thus, when an advocate carries out his profession, he has the right to receive an honorarium from his client. Regarding the amount of honorarium received by an advocate, it depends on the agreement with his/her client. In other words, the amount of the attorneys honorarium is different from one to another. It is no standard, and depends on various variables. So don't be surprised when you see advocate X who is full of wealth, but there are also advocates who are willing to donate their profession for justice and humanity who get little pay.

There are several factors that influence the high and low fees of an advocate, namely:[2]

1. Lawyer's name. This has become one of the common factors in using the services of an advocate. The more famous the name of the lawyer you will use, the more expensive the fees you will have to pay to hire the services of the advocate.
2. Legal issues. The second thing that determines the cost of services is how big the legal problem you are facing. If you are hit by a complicated case, the tariffs charged will be even more expensive.
3. The area or residence of the attorney. Even though they are taking care of the same case, sometimes the fees for attorneys who are domiciled in city X can be more expensive than those in city Y. This is not something strange, because advocates generally also assess the average standard of living in the place where they live.
4. Client condition. In addition to residence, lawyers will also determine fees or rates based on the financial condition of their prospective clients. No need to worry, because there are several lawyers who are willing to provide free legal aid services for people who are really financially incapable.
5. Lawyer flight hours. The last factor that also determines the cost of the services of an advocate is their flying hours. If a lawyer is experienced in handling many cases, of course their rates will be even more expensive.

Just a note, in the opinion of the author, the client must really carefully examine the need for an advocate who will handle his/her case. Don't just consider the name, also consider the competence and flight hours. Lawyer X, for example, often appears on TV with accessories worth billions, and declares himself to be a specialist lawyer in the field of Y. Although not always, but not necessarily he is competent in other fields of law, or at least someone is more competent in other fields. In this condition, you can choose another lawyer with a variety of rates that are more suitable for your pocket.

Variety of Attorneys Fees in Indonesia

There are several types of advocate fees in Indonesia:[3]

1. Lawyer fees, which are usually paid in advance as a professional fee.
2. Operational fees, which are incurred by clients while their cases are handled by lawyers.
3. Success fee, with a percentage determined from the agreement between the lawyer and the client. The success fee is given by the client if the lawyer wins the case. However, if you lose the trial, the lawyer will not get a success fee.

As mentioned above, these three types of attorney fees are the most common. Lawyer fees are fees that must be paid by clients related to the profession of their attorney as an advocate. So when someone is legally qualified as an advocate, then he or she is legally entitled to get a lawyer fee immediately after having a client. Operational fees are costs that have to be incurred by the client when the lawyer moves to take care of his/her case, the cost to buy gasoline, the cost to buy drink and food, the cost to buy internet connection, toll fees, the cost of printing documents, etc. is included in it. Success fee is a cost that must be paid by the client when the case handled by the lawyer he/she has appointed results in a victory. The rate varies, it can be at 10% of the total assets obtained. For example, if a person gets a share of joint property from his marriage of 1 billion Rupiah, then his successful lawyer fee could be 10%, which is 100 million Rupiah.

As for the payment procedure, it is usually divided into several schemes, namely: 1. Volume, payments made include the total number of legal problems that will be or are being faced by the Client; 2. Hourly basis, that is, a payment procedure whose calculation is depend on how long the case is handled, for example based on hours; 3. Amount won, usually advocates like this handle for clients who do not have the cost to pay for the services of an advocate at the beginning, so that according to the agreement they will give a percentage of the amount generated from handling cases that have been properly resolved by advocates (Note: this method of payment is rare to used right now because it is detrimental to advocates from a professional perspective. Later, many directed it to the Legal Aid Institute as a solution); 4. Retainer clients, this mechanism is widely used by companies where the use of legal services uses a payment system on a regular basis, usually within a period of 6 months or even more; 5. Legal Aid Institutions (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum), usually provide assistance free of charge, of course for those who have a below average economy with various requirements that must be met. Usually one of the requirements that must be met is a certificate of poor economical incapacity from the Village Head or Sub District Head.[4] 

And if you have any difficulties regarding this topic, contact us, feel free in 24 hours, we will be glad to help you.

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

References:

1. Law no. 18 of 2003 concerning Advocates.

2. "Info Terbaru Kisaran Biaya Sewa Pengacara (Advokat)", harga.web.id., Diakses pada tanggal 10 Februari 2022, https://harga.web.id/biaya-sewa-pengacara-dan-metode-pembayarannya.info

3. "CARA MUDAH MENGHITUNG BIAYA JASA PENGACARA/ADVOKAT/KONSULTAN HUKUM", www.saplaw.top., Diakses pada tanggal 10 Februari 2022, https://www.saplaw.top/cara-mudah-menghitung-biaya-jasa-pengacara-advokat-konsultan-hukum/

4. Ibid.