Living in Switzerland - Private Life

Birth

Swiss law requires all births to be reported to the register office in the place of birth. The declaration of birth must be made in person by the child’s legal father (either the mother’s husband or the man who has recognised the child as his own or intends to do so), by the mother, by a competent medical practitioner or by an obstetrician.

Marriage

Persons wishing to marry must contact the competent register office and produce the required documents (for foreign nationals, these are the residence certificate and documents from the country of origin indicating birth, sex, name, parent-child relationship, civil status and nationality). 

The competent register office is either that of the place of residence or of the place where the wedding will be held. Civil weddings are public and are conducted at the register office in the presence of two witnesses who have reached the age of majority. After the ceremony, the family record booklet and, if the couple so wish, the marriage certificate required for a religious ceremony are issued by the register office. Homosexual couples have a legal status that is recognised throughout the country. 

A registered civil partnership gives them similar protection and obligations to those of marriage, except, however, for adoption and assisted procreation rights.

Death

All deaths must be reported to the register office in the place where they occur. If a person dies at his or her own home, a doctor must be contacted immediately to certify the death. When reporting a death to the register office, the following documents must be produced: a death certificate issued by a doctor, the deceased’s identity document and his or her family record booklet, individual civil status certificate or family certificate. 

Burial or cremation is permitted only after the death has been reported to the register office. Information on formalities and standard funeral practices is available from the municipal authority.

Text last edited on: 11/2007

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2008
Reproduction is authorised.