Besides handwritten and oral (emergency) wills, the law also recognises the notarised variant. This offers advantages that can mostly pay off when circumstances are complicated or an estate is valuable.

An emergency will can be created in exceptional cases. It is delivered orally to two witnesses and is valid only for a limited term.

You can apply for a right of residence in order to secure your individual housing situation in the event of death. The right of residence is the right to inhabit a building or part of it. In contrast to the “usufruct”, the use of the right of residence is personal and not transferable.

What is a guardianship provision? In principle, Swiss law provides for legal provisions when parents decease. If only one parent dies, custody usually remains with the surviving parent – given this is within the best interest of the child. This is automatically the case for parents who are married, as well as those who are […]

An inheritance advance is a special form of gift. However, the recipient must offset this free gift from their share of the inheritance when the estate is divided up. Read on to find out what you need to know to prevent disputes later on.

A person can set up an inheritance contract to prepare for their death. This will allow them to dispose of their assets after their decease.

In the event of death, the will is often the most important surviving document. In order for it to be valid, it must meet certain formal requirements. Normally, it must be written by hand, as well as dated and signed.