Wills & Estates · Switzerland
Find wills lawyers in Switzerland
Swiss succession law is federal, but the courts, the fees and the language of proceedings are cantonal — so the right match depends on where you live and where the assets sit. Tell us what you are facing and we introduce you to a practice that handles exactly this kind of matter. The matching service is free and you choose whether to instruct anyone.
- Succession and estate work under the Swiss Civil Code
- One cantonal admission is recognised throughout Switzerland
- Free matching; you speak to the lawyer before deciding
No fee for the matching service. We aim to reply within 24–48 hours.
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Wills & Succession
Wills and estates in Switzerland: what you are actually dealing with
A will is one of the few documents that speaks for you when you no longer can, and in Switzerland it operates inside a federal succession law that leaves less room for improvisation than many people assume. Whether you are planning your estate, dealing with a compulsory portion reserved for close family, or administering the estate of someone who has died, wills lawyers in Switzerland can translate the rules of the Civil Code into a document that holds. We are a matching service: you describe your situation, we compare it with the practices and languages of specialised lawyers across the cantons, and we introduce you to those who handle your kind of matter. The first step costs nothing.
Switzerland in detail
How succession law and estate practice work in Switzerland
Switzerland applies one federal Civil Code to succession, but the courts that hear estate matters, the fees they charge and the language they use are organised canton by canton. These are the practical features that shape how a will is drafted, challenged or administered here.
Compulsory portions after the 2023 revision
Swiss succession law reserves a compulsory portion (Pflichtteil) for certain heirs. Since the revision in force on 1 January 2023, the compulsory portion of descendants and of the surviving spouse or registered partner is one half of their statutory entitlement, and the compulsory portion of parents has been abolished under Art. 471 of the Civil Code. At least half of the estate is therefore freely disposable.
No federal inheritance tax
Switzerland levies no inheritance or gift tax at federal level; inheritance taxation is a cantonal and partly communal matter. The surviving spouse or registered partner is exempt in all cantons, and most cantons also exempt direct descendants, while rates and exemptions for other heirs vary significantly. The tax burden therefore turns on the deceased’s canton of residence.
The default matrimonial property regime
Unless spouses agree otherwise in a marriage contract, ‘participation in acquired property’ (Errungenschaftsbeteiligung) applies automatically under Art. 181 of the Civil Code. Each spouse keeps their own assets during the marriage, but on dissolution the acquisitions of each are balanced and any surplus shared equally. Spouses may instead choose community of property or separation of property under Art. 182.
One federal code, 26 cantonal court systems
Substantive succession law is federal, but the courts are organised by the cantons. Since 2011 the federal Civil Procedure Code governs procedure across the country, while court fees and party compensation remain largely cantonal. Proceedings are conducted in German, French or Italian depending on the canton, which shapes both the choice of representative and the practical timetable.
Who may act for you, and where
A lawyer must hold a cantonal practising certificate and be entered on a cantonal roll under the Federal Act on the Free Movement of Lawyers (BGFA), yet that single admission is recognised nationwide: a lawyer admitted in one canton may represent parties before judicial authorities throughout Switzerland. In civil procedure there is no general obligation to be represented, although before the Federal Supreme Court civil parties must instruct an admitted lawyer (Art. 40 of the Federal Supreme Court Act).
Costs, fees and legal aid
Court costs follow cantonal tariffs and the claimant normally pays an advance (Art. 98 CPC); the unsuccessful party bears the costs of the proceedings (Art. 106 CPC). Lawyers’ fees are freely agreed or set by cantonal schedules, and the court fixes party compensation (Art. 105 CPC). Free legal aid under Art. 117–123 CPC applies where means are insufficient and the case is not devoid of any chance of success.
Key time limit — Inheritance, Probate & Wills
Renunciation of an inheritance (disclaimer) — 3 months. An heir who wishes to disclaim an inheritance must act within this period.
The country information on this page is drawn from official Swiss sources — the Fedlex database of federal legislation, the Federal Office of Justice and the official ch.ch portal — consulted in 2025.
- Swiss Civil Code (ZGB/CC) — succession, compulsory portions and matrimonial property
- Swiss Code of Obligations — limitation periods
- Federal Act on the Free Movement of Lawyers (BGFA)
- Swiss Civil Procedure Code (ZPO/CPC)
- Federal Constitution — court system and national languages
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure — appeal deadlines
- Inheritance tax — official Swiss portal
- Lugano Convention 2007 — Federal Office of Justice
Common situations
Why people look for a wills lawyer in Switzerland
Most enquiries reach us at one of three moments: before a will is signed, after a death, or when a deadline has started to run.
The will you wrote may not do what you think
Testamentary freedom in Switzerland is real but bounded: compulsory portions protect close family, and a document drafted without them in mind can end up producing something very different from your intention.
The family is spread across cantons and countries
Assets in one canton, heirs in an EU state and a bank account somewhere else raise questions about jurisdiction, applicable law and enforcement that are far easier to answer before a death than afterwards.
An inheritance arrives with a deadline attached
Renouncing an inheritance has to happen within three months, and the decision may involve debts that are not immediately visible. Reviewing the position early is usually cheaper than correcting it later.
How we help
Matching built around succession work, not general enquiries
We route your request to practices that actually handle wills, compulsory portions, estate administration and inheritance disputes.
Succession specialists, not generalists
You are matched with lawyers whose practice covers wills, compulsory portions, estate administration and inheritance disputes, so the first conversation starts from your facts rather than from a textbook.
Federal rules, cantonal reality
Because court organisation, fees and the language of proceedings vary between the 26 cantons, we take your canton and your preferred language into account when we prepare the shortlist.
Clear on costs before you commit
Swiss lawyers’ fees are agreed freely or set by cantonal schedules, and legal aid exists where means are insufficient. Ask every lawyer you speak to for a fee structure in writing.
Free matching, no obligation
Our service is free for clients. You describe your situation, we propose suitable practices, and you decide whether to instruct one of them — nothing is binding until you agree terms.
Across Europe
Cross-border estates and related jurisdictions
If your matter touches more than one country, tell us when you write. We can include practices used to working with foreign heirs, foreign assets and the enforcement of judgments across borders.
Frequently asked questions
Wills and succession in Switzerland: your questions
How much of my estate can I leave to whom I choose in Switzerland?
Swiss law reserves a compulsory portion for certain heirs. Since 1 January 2023 that portion is one half of the statutory entitlement for descendants and for the surviving spouse or registered partner, and the compulsory portion of parents has been abolished under Art. 471 of the Civil Code. In practice at least half of the estate can be disposed of freely.
Is there inheritance tax in Switzerland?
There is no inheritance or gift tax at federal level; inheritance taxation is a cantonal and partly communal matter. The surviving spouse or registered partner is exempt in all cantons, and most cantons also exempt direct descendants, while rates and exemptions for other heirs vary significantly. The burden depends on the deceased’s canton of residence.
Do wills lawyers in Switzerland need to be admitted in my canton?
No. Under the Federal Act on the Free Movement of Lawyers, a lawyer holding a cantonal practising certificate and entered on a cantonal roll may represent parties before judicial authorities throughout Switzerland. What does change from canton to canton is the language of proceedings and the court organisation, so a practice familiar with your canton is often the better fit.
How are cross-border estates handled, given that Switzerland is not in the EU?
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union and conducts relations with the EU through sectoral bilateral agreements. For cross-border civil matters it is a party to the Lugano Convention of 2007, which aligns jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments with the EU’s Brussels I regime. Where heirs or assets sit in the EU, this shapes both strategy and enforcement.
How long do I have to renounce an inheritance in Switzerland?
A renunciation of an inheritance must be made within three months. Because an estate can carry debts that are not obvious at first sight, the decision is usually taken with legal advice rather than alone. A lawyer can review the assets, the liabilities and any testamentary dispositions before you decide.
What does it cost to involve a wills lawyer, and can I get legal aid?
Lawyers’ fees are freely agreed between lawyer and client or, where no agreement exists, determined according to cantonal fee schedules; there is no binding federal tariff. Court costs follow cantonal tariffs and the unsuccessful party normally bears them. Free legal aid under the Civil Procedure Code applies where a person lacks sufficient means and the case is not devoid of any chance of success.
Next step
Tell us about your estate matter
Describe your situation in a few lines — where you live, where the assets are, and what you need to achieve. We will match you with wills lawyers in Switzerland whose practice fits the case, and you decide whether to go further.