“Major changes in our lives can be a second opportunity.”
“Major changes in our lives can be a second opportunity .”
We support you through separation and divorce under Swiss law. Whether the issues concern maintenance, childcare, the family home or the division of assets, we clarify your legal options and assist with agreed arrangements and court proceedings.
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Clarify your options
Maintenance, childcare, employment and use of the family home are central issues in separation and divorce. We help you understand the consequences under Swiss law and prepare your next decisions on an informed basis.
We assess custody and care, maintenance and the financial legal position. We distinguish statutory entitlements, negotiable solutions and unresolved risks, taking account of your personal circumstances.
General statements about divorce do not replace an individual assessment. We explain options and limits in light of your family and financial circumstances so that you can weigh your choices on a clear legal basis.
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marital agreements
A marital agreement can clarify property arrangements between spouses and support forward-looking protection. We advise on the options under Swiss matrimonial property law and explain their implications for your personal circumstances.
We assess whether the statutory participation-in-acquisitions regime fits your objectives or whether another matrimonial property regime should be considered. We take account of assets, business interests and mutual protection, as well as the required public notarisation.
Agreements on specific consequences of divorce also require careful legal assessment. We explain statutory limits and possible court review so that you understand the effect and scope of the proposed provisions.
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cohabitation agreements
A cohabitation agreement provides unmarried couples with clear arrangements for living together and a possible separation. Joint purchases, home ownership and financial contributions should be regulated so that rights and responsibilities remain clear.
Switzerland has no uniform statutory framework for cohabitation equivalent to that for marriage. We tailor provisions on sharing costs, assets and separation to your situation, taking account of the applicable legal rules.
We also assess with you the need for supplementary advance planning and estate arrangements. Where you have children together, we explain the rights and statutory requirements that apply regardless of private agreements.
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Separation or divorce
We support you through separation and divorce under Swiss law and clarify the associated rights and obligations. Together, we develop an approach that takes account of your family circumstances and personal objectives.
We advise on separation agreements, marital protection proceedings and divorce, examining maintenance, children’s matters, housing, asset division and occupational pensions. For an agreed solution, we assist with drafting a divorce agreement and explain the required approvals.
If agreement is not possible, we assess court action and represent your interests in proceedings. Our strategy considers legal prospects, financial consequences and personal burdens rather than escalation at any cost.
Further information
A free initial consultation for your legal concerns
We offer new clients a free, non-binding 15-minute initial consultation. You tell us about your concerns, and we discuss your situation and possible strategies. We are here to support you through legal advice or representation in proceedings. We look forward to meeting you.
Complex questions from practice
How are maintenance and childcare assessed where self-employment income fluctuates substantially?
Sustainable income, documented business figures and actual care must be assessed together. One good or bad year is not always representative. Child maintenance and spousal or post-divorce maintenance are subject to different requirements.
Several financial years, tax documents and current developments assist a reliable assessment. Exceptional income or one-off losses should be identifiable. Actual childcare should also be documented. This avoids assessments of income and care responsibilities based on differing or incomplete assumptions.
How is a jointly financed house with inherited equity divided on divorce?
Ownership shares, the matrimonial property regime, the origin of funds and shares in added value are decisive. Land register ownership and matrimonial property claims are not identical. Preserve purchase documents, financing flows and investment evidence; a blanket equal split is not always correct.
An overview of funding sources identifies amounts originating from inheritance, earned income or joint loans. Later renovations and repayments may also be relevant. Ownership of the house, claims between spouses and liability towards the bank must be considered separately before agreeing a takeover or sale.
May a spouse move abroad with the children without consent where parental responsibility is shared?
Where parental responsibility is shared, moving the child’s residence abroad generally requires consent or an authority’s decision. The child’s best interests and effects on care are central. If an unauthorised move is threatened, appropriate protective measures should be considered in good time.
Relevant factors include not only the proposed home but also school, social ties and practical arrangements for contact with the other parent. Record existing care arrangements and specific relocation plans. If departure is imminent, the legal response should be clarified promptly; subsequent return proceedings are a different process.
When can an existing maintenance arrangement be varied following job loss?
A significant and lasting change may justify a variation. Voluntary income reductions, imputed income and the specific basis of the decision must be examined. Payments should not be stopped unilaterally; a variation does not automatically take effect when circumstances change.
Compare the circumstances at the original decision with the current situation and provide evidence of the change. Job loss, job searches and new income opportunities should be clearly documented. This helps assess whether a variation is justified and from which date an adjustment should be requested.