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.