The Legal Status and Consequences of Childfree Clauses in Marriage Agreements: Between Contractual Autonomy and Family Values

Yuliasara Isnaeni; Pratiwi Noviyanthi

doi:10.58829/lp.13.1.2026.374

Authors

Yuliasara Isnaeni Universitas Jayabaya, Jakarta, Indonesia
Pratiwi Noviyanthi Universitas Jayabaya, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58829/lp.13.1.2026.374

Keywords:

Childfree Clause, Freedom of Contract, Indonesian Family Law, Marriage Agreement, Reproductive Rights

Abstract

Childfree decisions have become increasingly debated in Indonesia, particularly when incorporated as clauses in marriage agreements. This study examines the legal status and consequences of childfree clauses under Indonesian civil and family law, focusing on contractual autonomy, reproductive rights, and family values. Using a normative legal method, this study employs statutory and conceptual to examine the validity and legal consequences of childfree clauses in marriage agreements. The findings show that childfree clauses may be included in marriage agreements as an expression of contractual autonomy, but their validity and enforceability are subject to legal and ethical limitations. Although such clauses may satisfy the formal requirements of contractual validity, reproductive decisions remain closely connected to personal rights and cannot be enforced through conventional contractual remedies. Moreover, Indonesian marriage law recognizes broader religious, moral, and social dimensions of marriage, which limit unrestricted contractual freedom. Consequently, violations of childfree clauses are more likely to generate social and relational consequences than direct legal sanctions. The study argues that childfree clauses should be understood primarily as expressions of mutual commitment rather than absolute reproductive obligations. A balanced legal framework is therefore needed to accommodate contractual autonomy while protecting reproductive rights and respecting family values.

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