PERAN ADVOKAT DALAM PERMOHONAN PENETAPAN WALI TERHADAP ANAK DIBAWAH UMUR BERDASARKAN WASIAT

Abstrak

Permasalahan penetapan wali terhadap anak di bawah umur berdasarkan surat wasiat sering menimbulkan persoalan hukum, terutama ketika terjadi perbedaan kepentingan antara pihak pewaris, pelaksana wasiat, dan pihak keluarga. Hal ini menuntut peran advokat sebagai pendamping hukum untuk memastikan proses permohonan berjalan sesuai ketentuan peraturan perundang-undangan dan tetap melindungi hak-hak anak. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut, rumusan masalah dalam penelitian ini adalah bagaimana peran advokat dalam permohonan penetapan wali terhadap anak di bawah umur berdasarkan wasiat serta kendala apa yang dihadapi advokat dalam pelaksanaannya.Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui dan menganalisis secara yuridis peran advokat dalam mendampingi klien dalam permohonan penetapan wali berdasarkan surat wasiat, serta untuk mengidentifikasi kendala yang timbul dalam praktik di pengadilan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode yuridis normatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus, yaitu menganalisis Putusan Pengadilan Negeri Medan Nomor 184/Pdt.G/2022/PN.Mdn, serta dikaji melalui bahan hukum primer, sekunder, dan tersier. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa advokat memiliki peran strategis dalam menyiapkan berkas administrasi, memberikan pendampingan hukum, dan memastikan bahwa penetapan wali dilakukan demi kepentingan terbaik bagi anak (the best interest of the child). Namun dalam praktiknya, advokat masih menghadapi kendala, antara lain kurangnya kelengkapan dokumen, kesalahan dalam menafsirkan kedudukan antara pelaksana wasiat dan wali, serta kurangnya kehati-hatian dalam mengungkap fakta hukum. Oleh karena itu, profesionalitas dan integritas advokat menjadi faktor utama agar proses penetapan wali berdasarkan wasiat dapat terlaksana secara sah, adil, dan menjamin perlindungan hukum bagi anak di bawah umur.

The issue of appointing a guardian for a minor based on a will often gives rise to legal problems, particularly when there are conflicting interests between the testator, the executor of the will, and the family members. This situation demands the role of an advocate as a legal assistant to ensure that the guardianship petition process complies with the provisions of the prevailing laws and regulations while safeguarding the rights of the child. Based on these issues, the research questions in this study are: how is the role of the advocate in the petition for the appointment of a guardian for a minor based on a will, and what obstacles are faced by advocates in its implementation.The objective of this study is to identify and analyze, from a juridical perspective, the role of advocates in assisting clients in the petition for guardianship based on a will, as well as to identify the challenges that arise in judicial practice. This research employs a normative juridical method with a case study approach by analyzing the Medan District Court Decision Number 184/Pdt.G/2022/PN.Mdn, examined through primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials.The results of the study indicate that advocates play a strategic role in preparing administrative documents, providing legal assistance, and ensuring that the appointment of a guardian is carried out in the best interest of the child. However, in practice, advocates still encounter several obstacles, including incomplete documentation, misinterpretation of the legal standing between the executor of the will and the guardian, as well as a lack of diligence in presenting legal facts. Therefore, the professionalism and integrity of advocates are crucial factors to ensure that the guardianship appointment process based on a will is conducted lawfully, fairly, and provides legal protection for minors.