Appeal Deadlines in Swiss Law

Civil Procedure (CPC)

Appeal (art. 311 CPC): 30 days from notification of reasoned decision. Limited appeal (art. 321 CPC): 30 days. Objection to default judgment (art. 148 CPC): 10 days.

Criminal Procedure (CrimPC)

Appeal announcement (art. 399 para. 1 CrimPC): 10 days from judgment communication. Reasoned appeal (art. 399 para. 3 CrimPC): 20 days from notification. Appeal against procedural acts (art. 396 CrimPC): 10 days. Objection to summary penalty order (art. 354 CrimPC): 10 days.

Administrative Procedure (APA)

Federal Administrative Court (art. 50 para. 1 APA): 30 days. Federal Supreme Court (art. 100 para. 1 FSCA): 30 days.

Computation (art. 142-149 CPC)

Deadlines begin the day after notification (art. 142 para. 1 CPC). Court holidays suspend statutory deadlines in civil matters (art. 145 CPC): Easter (7 days before to 7 after), summer (15 July to 15 August), year-end (18 December to 2 January). Not in criminal (art. 89 para. 2 CrimPC) or administrative (different APA regime, art. 22a APA).

If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, extended to next business day (art. 142 para. 3 CPC). Postal postmark is decisive for mail filings.

Deadline Restoration (art. 148 CPC)

Possible in case of non-culpable impediment (serious illness, natural disaster). Application within 10 days of impediment cessation.

Consequences

Missing an appeal deadline causes definitive forfeiture: the right to appeal is permanently lost and the decision becomes enforceable. No second chance exists except the exceptional deadline restoration.