Pergeseran Konflik Waris ke Ranah Pidana: Studi Yuridis Empiris di Kota Madiun

Inheritance disputes primarily concern the status, possession, and distribution of inherited assets but may acquire criminal-law relevance when accompanied by concrete unlawful actions. This study examines the characteristics of inheritance conflicts potentially involving criminal offenses and evaluates their legal qualification under Indonesian criminal law. Employing a juridical-empirical method with a qualitative approach, primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 informants and document observation across four inheritance dispute cases in RT 24, Klegen Village, Kartoharjo District, Madiun City. Data were analyzed through chronological reconstruction, classification of disputed actions, and a delict-testing matrix comparing empirical evidence with relevant criminal offense elements and applicable provisions based on tempus delicti. The findings identify three potential escalation patterns: misuse of inheritance documents, unauthorized control or utilization of inherited assets, and coercive actions against heirs. Cases K1, K2, and K4 demonstrate initial indications of potential criminal relevance, whereas alleged document forgery in K3 presents relatively stronger indications, with alleged coercion requiring separate examination. These classifications indicate evidentiary relevance rather than established criminal liability. The study introduces a pre-penal analytical perspective for distinguishing civil inheritance disputes from independently assessable criminal conduct. It concludes that criminal-law relevance arises not from inheritance disagreements themselves but from specific accompanying actions that satisfy the evidentiary and legal requirements for further examination under applicable criminal provisions.