Switzerland: templates and forms

For policyholders in Switzerland: terminates a supplementary health, household, liability, legal-protection or other policy under the Insurance Contract Act (VVG) — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a VVG), on the date the conditions allow, after a premium increase or for good cause (Art. 35b VVG), else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance needs a separate letter. Send it by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For people in Switzerland who want a trusted person to act for them generally: contracts, payments, post, authorities, debt enforcement and, where procedure allows, court (Art. 32 ff. of the Code of Obligations, CO). Land, acts needing a public deed and gifts are excluded; settlements as you choose. It can be revoked at any time and ends if you lose capacity — for that, Swiss law has the handwritten advance-care mandate (Vorsorgeauftrag, Art. 360 ff. CC). Sign it and hand it to the person you appoint. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For two businesses or self-employed people in Switzerland who exchange confidential information before working together, investing or buying: the purpose, what is and is not confidential, use only for the purpose, sharing only with bound staff and advisers, no reverse engineering, disclosure on an authority's order, return and deletion, duration and an optional contractual penalty (Art. 160 ff. CO). Swiss law and an optional place of jurisdiction. Signed by both parties. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For employees in Switzerland whose employer owes them wages, overtime or pay during illness: a written demand for payment listing the amounts, with the total, a deadline and the account. Overtime with the 25% supplement (Art. 321c para. 3 CO), pay during illness on your canton's court scale (Art. 324a CO), 5% default interest and a written pay statement (Art. 323b CO). Items left blank are dropped. Send it registered; conciliation that may follow is free of court costs up to CHF 30'000.00. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants who have left a rented flat in Switzerland: the letter claiming back the rent deposit (Mietzinsdepot, Art. 257e of the Code of Obligations, CO). You choose who receives it: the landlord, asked to consent to the bank releasing the money, or the bank directly once a year has passed since the lease ended without the landlord pursuing a claim. It names the bank, the account, the amount, your IBAN and a reply date. Print, sign and send it registered. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants in Switzerland living with defects in their flat: the written notice to the landlord or agency. It lists what is wrong, sets a date for the repairs (Art. 259a and 259b of the Code of Obligations, CO), claims a lower rent from when the landlord knew (Art. 259d CO) and can carry the written warning that the rent will be paid into deposit, which Art. 259g CO requires first. It names your canton's conciliation authority. Print, sign, add photos and post it registered. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For clients and freelancers in Switzerland: a mandate (Auftrag) under Art. 394 ff. of the Code of Obligations (CO) covering the services, duration, fee with a VAT choice, expenses, payment terms, independence, AHV as a self-employed person, rights in the work results, confidentiality and data protection. It names false self-employment: the AHV compensation office (Ausgleichskasse) decides the status on the actual facts, not the contract. Either party may terminate at any time (Art. 404 CO). Signed by both parties. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants in Switzerland who want to sublet a room or the whole flat: the registered request for consent to the landlord or agency (Art. 262 of the Code of Obligations, CO). It discloses the terms — the part let, the person, the term, the sub-rent and service charges, furnished or not, and for the whole flat the reason and the return — names the three grounds that alone allow a refusal and sets a reply date. Every tenant signs. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants in Switzerland whose rent rests on a higher reference interest rate than today's: the written request asking the landlord to lower the rent under Art. 270a of the Code of Obligations (CO) from the next termination date. It states the rate behind your rent, today's rate, the cut asked for and the landlord's 30 days to answer, and names your canton's conciliation authority. Every tenant signs; send it by registered post (Einschreiben). Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For private persons in Switzerland who received a letter from a collection agency (Inkassobüro, société de recouvrement, agenzia d’incasso): contests the claim in whole or part, reports it paid or pleads limitation, refuses collection fees and a flat “damage for delay” that were never agreed, and asks for a breakdown with documents. If a payment order from the debt collection office follows, object within ten days. Send it by registered post and keep a copy. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty: gives notice of the defect (Mängelrüge) under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found and demands, with a deadline, repair under the guarantee, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or rescission (Art. 205 CO). Claims are time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law has no right to return faultless online purchases. Send it registered. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For parents in Switzerland whose child travels without them or with only one parent: the declaration by which the parents with parental authority consent to the trip and authorise a companion, giving the child, the travel document, destination, dates, purpose and the parents' phone numbers, as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) recommends. Where parental authority is joint, both sign (Art. 296 and 301 of the Civil Code, CC). With room for certified signatures if the destination asks for it. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For main tenants in Switzerland who sublet a room in their shared flat (WG, colocation): the agreement with the room and shared areas, the rent and the service charges listed one by one (Art. 257a of the Code of Obligations, CO), the deposit in the subtenant's name (Art. 257e CO), the landlord's consent (Art. 262 CO) and notice of two weeks for a furnished room or three months otherwise. It states that the sublease depends on the main lease (Art. 273b CO). Both sides sign. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For private people in Switzerland selling or buying a used car who deal in English: records the car, its master number (Stammnummer), mileage, price and payment, handover only against the full price, the seller's assurances on accidents and mileage, and the exclusion of warranty within its legal limits (Art. 199 and 100 CO). The plates stay with the seller; the buyer registers the car with the canton's road traffic office. Print two copies, both sign, with a receipt. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For creditors in Switzerland, private persons and businesses, who deal with the debtor in English: asks the debtor one last time to pay a due claim by a date, states the reason, the amount, the account and 5 % default interest (Art. 104 CO), and otherwise announces debt enforcement (Betreibung, poursuite, esecuzione). You then file the request on the debt collection office's form or through EasyGov.swiss, in the office's language; this letter does not replace it. Send it by registered post and keep a copy. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For employees in Switzerland who have been given notice and consider it abusive: the written objection (Einsprache) under Art. 336b CO, which must reach the employer before the notice period ends, or the compensation of up to six months' wages (Art. 336a CO) is lost. With your reasons if you wish to give them, an offer to continue the employment and, if you do not yet have them, a request for the written reasons (Art. 335 para. 2 CO). Print, sign and send by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for good cause such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to any tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. Consumer organisations offer free or members' model letters. Send it by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For customers in Switzerland: cancels a mobile, internet, TV or landline contract at the end of the minimum term, with the contractual notice period, because of an announced price or contract change, or for good cause, and asks for written confirmation and how to return equipment. The periods come from the contract and the provider's terms, not from a statute. Send it by registered post; ombudscom mediates disputes. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For employers and employees in Switzerland who want to end the employment by mutual agreement (Aufhebungsvereinbarung): the end date, at whose wish, work or release from work until then, pay, holiday and overtime, any severance payment, the concessions on each side, the reference, return of property, the non-compete and the settlement of claims within Art. 341 CO. The consequences for unemployment insurance are stated. Two signed copies. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For anyone who wants to know what data a company, an association or a federal office holds on them: requests access under Art. 25 of the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP, in force since 1 September 2023) — Swiss law, not the GDPR. The answer is free as a rule and due within 30 days (Art. 18 DPO). Cantonal and municipal authorities fall under cantonal law. Send it by registered post or e-mail. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For private persons in Switzerland lending each other money — family, friends or acquaintances — in English: records the amount, the payout, interest (or none), repayment in one sum, in monthly instalments or within six weeks of being asked (Art. 318 CO) and what happens on default, with a separate signed receipt. The Consumer Credit Act does not apply while neither party lends as a business and no crowdlending platform arranges the loan (Art. 2 CCA). Print two copies and have both parties sign. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For couples living together in Switzerland without being married: the agreement on property and inventory, the sharing of household costs, the flat, loans and gifts, and the settlement on separation. It also says what a cohabitation agreement (Konkubinatsvertrag) cannot do: it does not make the partner an heir (that needs a handwritten will, Art. 505 CC), pension fund benefits follow the fund's regulations (Art. 20a BVG), and parental authority and child maintenance are settled elsewhere. With an inventory annex. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For employees in Switzerland who have been given notice, ordinary or with immediate effect: the written request that the employer state the reasons in writing (Art. 335 para. 2 CO; for an immediate termination, Art. 337 para. 1 CO), with a deadline for the answer. The request does not accept the dismissal and reserves the objection for abuse, which must reach the employer before the notice period ends. Print, sign and send by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For people in Switzerland who authorise someone for one precisely described matter: collecting a parcel or documents, deregistering a vehicle, voting at a meeting, attending a flat handover (Art. 32 ff. of the Code of Obligations, CO). With an end date, without land or acts needing a public deed; settlements and gifts only if expressly described (Art. 396 para. 3 CO). Sign it and give it to the person you appoint. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.