General Law
Cross-cutting legal questions, general principles and Swiss law updates.
How Does a Trial Work in Switzerland?
The course of civil and criminal trials: key stages from conciliation to judgment, instances and remedies under the CPC and CrimPC.
Free Legal Aid in Switzerland
Conditions for free legal aid: financial criteria, chances of success, application procedure under art. 117 CPC and art. 29 para. 3 FC.
Mediation or Court: Which Path to Choose?
Comparison of mediation and litigation in Switzerland: advantages, disadvantages, costs, duration and legal framework under the CPC.
Court Costs in Switzerland: What to Expect
Court costs: judicial fees, party costs, lawyer fees, advance payments and allocation under the CPC.
How to Choose a Lawyer in Switzerland
Practical guide to choosing a lawyer: selection criteria, bar register, first consultation, fees and professional obligations under the LLCA.
First Appointment with a Lawyer: How to Prepare
Practical advice for preparing your first appointment with a lawyer in Switzerland: documents to bring, questions to ask, process and follow-up.
Appeal Deadlines in Swiss Law
Key appeal deadlines in Swiss law: civil, criminal and administrative, consequences of non-compliance and computation rules under CPC, CrimPC and APA.
Mandatory Conciliation in Switzerland
Mandatory conciliation in Swiss civil law: scope, process, judgment proposal and authorisation to proceed under art. 197 et seq. CPC.
The Federal Supreme Court: When and How to Appeal
Appealing to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court: admissibility conditions, types of appeal, deadlines and specifics under the FSCA.
Fundamental Rights in Switzerland: Citizen Guide
Fundamental rights guaranteed by the Swiss Federal Constitution: individual freedoms, equality, protection against arbitrariness and procedural guarantees.
Bank Secrecy in Switzerland: Myth and Reality
Bank secrecy in Swiss law: legal basis, current scope, exceptions and automatic exchange of information. What remains after recent reforms.
Consumer Protection in Switzerland
Consumer protection: right of withdrawal, warranty, consumer credit, unfair competition and remedies under the UCA, CO and CCA.
Tort Liability in Switzerland
Principles of tort liability: fault-based, strict liability, conditions, compensable damage and prescription under art. 41 et seq. CO.
The Right to Privacy in Switzerland
Privacy and data protection: constitutional foundations, personality protection (art. 28 CC) and the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP).
Defamation and Honour Violation in Swiss Law
Honour protection: defamation, slander, insult, truth defence and remedies under art. 173-178 CP and art. 28 CC.
Neighbour Law in Switzerland
Neighbour law rules: excessive emissions, distances, plantations, views, noise and remedies under art. 679 and 684 et seq. CC.
Mandatory Insurance in Switzerland: Which Ones?
Mandatory insurance in Switzerland: health insurance, AVS/DI, accident insurance, motor vehicle liability and other obligations.
Wills in Switzerland: Drafting and Validity
Will rules: valid forms, holographic will, public will, content, statutory shares and revocation under art. 498 et seq. CC.
Succession in Switzerland: Legal Shares and Statutory Portions
Swiss succession law: legal shares, statutory portions, disposable portion and estate division under art. 457 et seq. CC after the 2023 revision.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Switzerland?
Lawyer costs: hourly rates, flat fees, retainers, cost factors and tips for managing your legal budget.
When Should You Consult a Lawyer?
Situations where consulting a lawyer is recommended or necessary: deadlines, mandatory defence, prevention and dispute resolution.
The Swiss Judicial System Explained Simply
How the Swiss judicial system works: court organisation, competence allocation between Confederation and cantons, and the path of a case through the courts.
Cantonal vs Federal Law: What Are the Differences?
Competence allocation between Confederation and cantons: primacy of federal law, residual cantonal competences and interaction.
Alternatives to Litigation in Switzerland
Alternative dispute resolution: mediation, arbitration, conciliation and negotiation. Advantages and legal framework under the CPC and PILA.
How to Read and Understand Swiss Law
Practical guide to reading Swiss laws: structure, hierarchy of norms, systematic compilation and accessible legal sources.
Your Rights When Facing the Police in Switzerland
Fundamental rights during police checks, stops and interviews: identification, search, custody and right to a lawyer under the CrimPC and FC.
What to Do in Case of an Insurance Dispute
Steps for insurance disputes: contesting a decision, ombudsman, court proceedings and deadlines under the ICA and social insurance laws.
Swiss Law for Expatriates: Essential Guide
Key legal questions for expatriates: permits, taxation, social insurance, employment law and cantonal particularities.
The Most Common Legal Mistakes in Switzerland
Frequent legal mistakes: misconceptions, missed deadlines, neglected formalities and misunderstandings that prove costly. Guide to avoiding them.
Neighbour Disputes in Switzerland: What to Do?
Remedies for neighbour disputes in Switzerland: noise, odours, plantings. Rights and obligations under the Civil Code (art. 684 CC).
Inheritance: How to Contest a Will in Switzerland
Ways to contest a will in Switzerland: action for annulment, action for abatement, deadlines and conditions under the Civil Code.
Curatorship in Switzerland: Types and Conditions
Complete guide to curatorship in Swiss law: advisory curatorship, representative curatorship, cooperative curatorship and general curatorship under art. 390-399 CC.
Setting Up an LLC (Sarl) in Switzerland: Complete Guide 2026
Everything about creating a limited liability company (Sarl/GmbH) in Switzerland: share capital, members, commercial register entry and legal obligations.
Setting Up a Corporation (SA) in Switzerland: Complete Guide 2026
Detailed guide for incorporating a corporation (SA/AG) in Switzerland: share capital, board of directors, registration and obligations under art. 620-634 CO.
Taxes in Switzerland: Guide to the Swiss Tax System
Understanding the Swiss tax system: federal direct tax (DITA), cantonal taxes (THA), VAT, wealth tax and legal tax optimisation.
Condominium Ownership (PPE) in Switzerland: Complete Legal Guide
Everything about condominium ownership (PPE) in Switzerland: constitution, rights and obligations of co-owners, regulations, charges and articles 712a to 712t CC.
What to Do in a Dispute with an Insurance Company?
Actions in Dispute with Insurance: Challenging a Decision, Ombudsman, Judicial Proceedings and Timeframes under the LCA and Social Legislation In case of a dispute with an insurance company, one may challenge their decision. The ombudsman for general insurance (Ombudsdienst für die allgemeine Versicherung) can be contacted to mediate disputes. If mediation is unsuccessful, judicial proceedings may be initiated according to the provisions of the Law on Compulsory Motor Vehicle Insurance (LCA) and social legislation. The timeframe for challenging a decision typically involves submitting an objection within **30 days** after receiving the insurance company's decision. For judicial proceedings, the claim must generally be filed within **6 months** from the date when the insured became aware of the damage or the refusal to pay compensation. For specific legal references and detailed procedures, one should consult the relevant articles in the Code of Obligations (CO), ATF decisions for case law guidance, and other pertinent social legislation.