The Divorce Petition: How to File for Divorce in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the Civil Code outlines two types of divorces: mutual consent divorce (Art. 111 et seq. CC) and unilateral divorce petition (Art. 114 et seq. CC). Each type involves different bureaucratic and judicial processes, varying significantly in cost and duration. A unilateral divorce can only be initiated through a petition, while for a mutual consent divorce, you submit a divorce application that includes the divorce request, the arrangement of ancillary matters, and evidence of personal and financial circumstances.

Completing the Divorce Request

In a mutual consent divorce, you and your partner first complete a divorce request form together. This form captures all your personal details and indicates whether you will arrange the ancillary matters with a divorce agreement or leave them to the court. The form for a divorce request is usually available for download on the website of the relevant court.

Arranging the Ancillary Matters

The most delicate aspect of divorces is arranging the so-called ancillary matters, which include all personal, financial, and legal consequences of the divorce:

• Division of assets (property settlement)
• Post-marital maintenance
• Child maintenance and alimony
• Allocation of the family home
• Child custody and visitation rights
• Pension sharing
• Coverage of legal costs (court and attorney fees)

In a mutual consent divorce, these ancillary matters are typically addressed in a divorce agreement. It is advisable to enlist the services of a family law attorney or a mediator to help draft this agreement.

The Divorce Agreement: Comprehensive or Partial Settlement

The Swiss Civil Code allows divorcing couples to submit either a comprehensive or partial settlement of ancillary matters with their divorce agreement (Articles 111 and 112 CC). A comprehensive settlement covers all relevant aspects mutually agreed upon. In contrast, a partial settlement leaves some disputed points for the court to decide.

Evidence of Personal and Financial Circumstances

To ensure the court can adequately assess the fairness of the divorce agreement, you must attach evidence of both partners' personal and financial circumstances to the divorce application. This includes income statements, tax returns, the family booklet, rental agreements, and pension fund statements.

Which Court Is Responsible for the Divorce?

You can file for divorce at the civil court in your canton of residence or, if applicable, that of your partner. Court organization varies within cantons, so it is best to seek legal advice to determine which court is responsible for your case. Cantonal court authorities can also provide guidance.

Note: If both you and your partner are Swiss but reside abroad, you can only file for divorce in Switzerland if the process abroad is impossible or unreasonable. In such cases, contact the civil court in your or your partner’s hometown in Switzerland.

In general, mutual consent divorces in Switzerland proceed significantly faster and more smoothly than divorce petitions. The ease of the process also depends on whether the divorce agreement resolves all relevant issues or if many ancillary matters still need to be settled by the court.

In cases of a comprehensive agreement, once all necessary documents are submitted, you will be summoned to a court hearing. During this hearing, the agreement will be read and reviewed. If the judge has no objections, the divorce will be immediately granted and will become legally binding upon the pronouncement of the judgment (Art. 111 CC). Partial approval is also possible. In this case, both parties must agree to the new terms for the court to grant final approval.

The process is more complicated if the divorce is initiated by one partner's unilateral petition. Such a divorce takes significantly longer, and you will need different documents than for a mutual consent divorce. The timing and reasons for the petitioning partner's request are also important. The Civil Code outlines two scenarios: a divorce petition after a prolonged separation and a divorce petition due to intolerability.

Divorce After Separation

According to Article 114 CC, you can generally file a divorce petition only after living apart from your partner for at least two years. This initiates the process of a contentious divorce, where all ancillary matters will be judged by the court in various hearings.

Such divorces are therefore much more time-consuming and expensive than divorces with a mutual agreement, potentially taking several years. Many couples increasingly opt for out-of-court mediation to reach agreements for a divorce agreement, avoiding a contentious process.

Divorce Due to Intolerability

If there are serious reasons for the divorce petition, the legal separation period under Article 115 CC can be shortened. Serious reasons recognized by the court include severe criminal behavior by one spouse, mental or physical abuse, long-term extramarital relationships, involvement in prostitution or pimping, personality and honor violations, stalking, as well as sham or forced marriages.

Divorces are very personal and individual processes, and no universal cost can be assigned. In any case, court costs are incurred for divorces in Switzerland, which vary significantly from canton to canton, depending on the dispute value and duration. Legal representation costs are usually added, which can be individually agreed upon or follow cantonal regulations. The final amount depends on the complexity of the case, the dispute value, and the time required.

Generally, contentious divorce proceedings in Switzerland are always significantly more expensive than mutual consent divorces. Therefore, we recommend always first seeking a possible agreement and consulting a divorce or family law attorney about your situation if necessary. Mediation can also help you save costs by facilitating a divorce solution.

Mit einem Scheidungsantrag erklären Sie und Ihr Partner Ihren einvernehmlichen Scheidungswillen. Sinn und Zweck der Scheidungskonvention ist es, diesen Antrag mit der genauen Regelung der Nebenfolgen der Scheidung zu ergänzen. Während Sie Scheidungskonventionen grundsätzlich individuell nach Ihren Wünschen gestalten und formulieren können, gibt es dennoch einige inhaltliche Punkte, die in jedem Fall enthalten sein sollten:

• Die Personalien beider Ehegatten: vollständige Namen, Geburtsdaten, Anschrift.
• Sorge- und Besuchsrecht in Bezug auf Kinder: Besteht gemeinsames Sorgerecht oder wird einem Elternteil das alleinige Fürsorgerecht zugeteilt? Wie werden Besuchszeiten beim anderen Elternteil geregelt?
• Kindesunterhalt: Regelung über die Unterhaltskosten, die die jeweiligen Elternteile zu tragen haben sowie möglicherweise Einigungen über gemeinsame Kostenübernahmen.
• Nachehelicher Unterhalt: Regelung über nacheheliche Unterhaltszahlungen an einen Partner.
• Vermögensaufteilung: Güterrechtliche Auseinandersetzung über die Aufteilung des ehelichen Vermögens und weiterer materieller Ansprüche, je nach Güterstand und individuellen Vereinbarungen.
• Familienwohnung: Regelung über den Verbleib oder Verkauf der gemeinsamen Wohnung oder Immobilie.
• Vorsorgeausgleich: Regelung über die Aufteilung beruflicher Vorsorgeleistungen unter den Ehegatten.
• Übernahme der Prozesskosten: Regelung darüber, wer die Prozesskosten der Scheidung trägt (beispielsweise 50:50 oder ein Partner, der die Gerichtskosten vollständig übernimmt).

Eine Scheidungskonvention wird nicht automatisch abgelehnt werden, nur weil Sie eventuell einen Absatz vergessen haben. Dennoch raten wir scheidenden Ehegatten immer, sich vor oder während der gesamten Erstellung ihrer Scheidungskonvention von einem Anwalt für Familienrecht beraten zu lassen. Auch eine Prüfung Ihrer Konvention, bevor Sie diese einreichen, gehört zu den Dienstleistungen familienrechtlicher Anwaltskanzleien.

Dies hat einerseits den offensichtlichen Vorteil, dass Sie eine garantiert rechtsgültige und gesetzeskonforme Konvention aufsetzen und somit die Gerichtsverhandlung so kurz wie möglich halten. Die Aussichten auf eine umgehende Genehmigung steigen auf diese Weise ebenfalls. Ausserdem können Sie durch die Beratung eines Anwalts sichergehen, dass die Konvention nicht etwa zu Ihrem rechtlichen Nachteil gestaltet wird.