Being entitled to inherit does not automatically mean actually inheriting. Swiss inheritance law recognizes four different ways in which persons can be excluded from the estate. The following overview shows what these inheritance exclusions are and in which situation they can be applied.

A right of residence in a will can protect partners from losing their shared home. This protection is particularly important for unmarried couples, as they have no legal right of inheritance.

A dementia diagnosis changes many things in the lives of those affected and their families. It also raises questions about inheritance law. Depending on the progression of the dementia, estate planning may even become completely impossible. For this reason, it is important to address this issue carefully and at an early stage. It helps the […]

Parents often want to support their children financially during their lifetime. There are three options to choose from: advance inheritance, gift or family loan. Each option has different legal and tax consequences.

The advance care directive regulates who takes over your affairs if you become incapable of judgment. But how does it become effective? A step-by-step process with a specific case study shows how it comes into effect.

A person who receives social assistance or supplementary benefits (EL) is faced with a key question when making a gift: Does this gift affect their entitlement to social assistance or EL? And if so, what are the specific effects?

Parents of children with a mental or physical disability often ask themselves a key question when planning their estate: do they have to explicitly take their child’s disability into account when drawing up their will or inheritance contract? If so, the question then arises as to whether this could have an impact on social security […]

The discussion about the introduction of a federal inheritance tax is a topic that has been controversially debated in Switzerland for years – and the initiative submitted in spring 2024 means that the topic is unlikely to lose any of its topicality in the future. A key question is whether and how inheritances contribute to […]

Buying a property is a key life ambition for many people, but financing this dream often raises questions. One of the most common forms of financing used for this is the mortgage. But how exactly does a mortgage work? How much mortgage makes sense at different stages of life, and what happens when mortgage debt […]

The idea of a child growing up without parents is not a pleasant one. To protect them, however, the law regulates who takes responsibility (guardianship) for an orphan. To a certain extent, it is also possible to take individual precautionary measures. It is always advisable for parents to think about this.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland have relatively similar legal systems in a global comparison. At the same time, the differences that exist between the regulations in detail should not be underestimated. This also applies to inheritance law. In the following text, we will show you the most important similarities and differences between the three countries.

Young people usually have both time and energy, but often lack the money. Many parents would therefore like to make a large financial or material contribution to their children during their lifetime instead of leaving them an inheritance after their death. Read here about what you should bear in mind when making an advance inheritance […]

Under Swiss inheritance law, several steps must be taken after the will has been opened before the estate can be fully settled and distributed. This procedure can be lengthy under certain circumstances and is associated with costs. This article is intended to give you a rough overview of the procedure after the will has been […]

It happens time and again that a person wishes to make a last will and testament to the lawyer or notary they trust. In this guide, we explain whether this is permissible and what you need to bear in mind.

When writing a will, it can happen that errors creep in that render the will or individual provisions invalid or even void. The use of a so-called severability clause can provide a remedy.

Switzerland is known for its liberal regulations on euthanasia and assisted suicide, but also for high prices and expensive services. In this text, we explain the main procedures and associated costs of assisted suicide.

With whole life insurance, you can provide financial security for your surviving dependants in the event of your death. You decide for yourself who you want to insure and for how much. Insurance companies advertise great protection for minimal premiums. However, not everyone benefits equally from death insurance.

The topic of life insurance comes up again and again. But what exactly does life insurance involve? Can I save taxes with it? In which situations does life insurance make sense?

After the death of a loved one, there is often a lot of organizational work to be done – such as giving notice to vacate the apartment. It is important to give notice in good time. Death does not automatically trigger termination.

Family matters are a private matter and the intervention of the KESB often leads to dissatisfaction among the parties concerned. In the event that the KESB becomes involved, it is therefore important to know what it may and may not do.