Switzerland: templates and forms

For people in Switzerland who want a trusted person to act for them generally, in German: contracts, payments, post, authorities, debt enforcement and, where allowed, court (Art. 32 ff. 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 (Art. 360 ff. CC). Sign it and hand it to the person you appoint.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty, in German: gives notice of the defect under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found, and demands with a deadline repair under the guarantee terms, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or the unwinding of the sale (Art. 205 CO). Claims become time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law has no right to return goods bought online when nothing is wrong with them. Send it by registered post.

For tenants in Switzerland whose rent rests on a higher reference interest rate than today's: the written request to the landlord to lower the rent under Art. 270a of the Code of Obligations (OR), for the next possible termination date. It states the reference rate behind your current rent, today's rate, the reduction you ask for and the 30 days the landlord has to reply, and names your canton's conciliation authority in case of a refusal. Work out your claim first with the tenants' association's free calculator. Signed by every tenant and sent by registered post. In German.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland, in German: 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 an important reason such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to a tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. The Swiss consumer foundation (Konsumentenschutz) and K-Tipp offer free model letters. Send it by registered post and ask for confirmation.

For customers in Switzerland, in German: 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 an important reason, and asks for written confirmation and how to return equipment. Notice periods and minimum terms are in the contract and terms, not in a statute. Send it by registered post; in a dispute the telecom conciliation body ombudscom can help.

For policyholders in Switzerland, in German: terminates a supplementary health insurance, a household, liability, legal-protection or other insurance under the Insurance Contract Act — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a VVG), on the date the policy conditions allow, because of a premium increase, or for an important reason, else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance (KVG) is terminated with a separate letter. Send it by registered post; the Act also accepts text form such as e-mail.

For tenants of a flat in Switzerland: the written notice to the landlord or the managing agency (Art. 266l para. 1 of the Code of Obligations, OR), with three months' notice to the lease's termination date, else to a local termination date (Art. 266c OR), and to the next possible date if the chosen one is missed. It has signature lines for every tenant and for the express consent of a spouse or registered partner where the flat is the family home (Art. 266m OR), and asks for a handover date and the release of the rent deposit. Print, sign and send by registered post. In German.

For debtors in Switzerland who objected (Rechtsvorschlag) to the whole claim, in German: asks the debt collection office under Art. 8a para. 3 let. d DEBA to stop disclosing the enforcement to third parties, at the earliest three months after the payment order was served. The office gives the creditor 20 days to prove proceedings to remove the objection. The flat fee of CHF 40.00 is owed even if the request fails (Art. 12b of the fees ordinance). The Federal Office of Justice's model form is free. Sent by registered post to the office that issued the payment order, in its official language.

A resignation letter for employees in Switzerland, in German: notice ending the employment with the contractual or statutory period (Art. 335c CO), or during probation with seven days or the period agreed (Art. 335b CO), on the date you choose or else the next possible date. It asks for confirmation, a reference (Arbeitszeugnis), the final pay with the salary certificate (Lohnausweis) and settles remaining holiday. The Code of Obligations requires no form, but contracts and collective agreements often do: print, sign and send by registered post or hand it over against a receipt.

For tenants in Switzerland who have moved out: the letter asking for the rent deposit back (Art. 257e of the Code of Obligations, OR). You choose the addressee: the landlord, who is asked to give the bank their consent to release it, or the bank itself once a year has passed since the lease ended without the landlord pursuing a claim through debt enforcement or a court action. It gives the bank, account, amount, your IBAN and a date for the reply. Print, sign and send by registered post. In German.

For debtors in Switzerland served with a payment order (Zahlungsbefehl), in German: you can object free of charge at once to the person delivering the payment order, who notes it on the order, or within ten days at the debt collection office, orally at the counter or in writing; no reasons are needed (Art. 74 and 75 DEBA). This letter is the written route with proof, in the office's official language: it objects to the whole claim or an exact part of it and asks for the free certificate. Send it by registered post, handed to the post office by the tenth day.

For people in Switzerland changing health insurer, in German: terminates the compulsory basic insurance after the new premium is announced, for the end of the year (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for you and children insured with you; it names the new insurer and keeps any supplementary insurance running. To change on 1 January, the notice must reach the insurer by 30 November; the postmark does not count. The Federal Office of Public Health offers a free model letter on priminfo.admin.ch. Send it by registered post or A-Post Plus.

For employees in Switzerland, in German: asks for a full reference, an interim reference or a confirmation of employment under Art. 330a CO, or for the correction of a reference that is wrong or incomplete, giving the current and the requested wording and a deadline. You can ask for a reference at any time, also while you are still employed. Print, sign and send it to the employer by registered post.

For tenants in Switzerland who move out before the termination date: the letter to the landlord announcing the early return of the flat and proposing a replacement tenant who is solvent and willing to take over the lease on the same terms (Art. 264 of the Code of Obligations, OR). It gives the return date and the candidates, sets a date for the landlord's answer and lists the documents enclosed. Print, have every tenant sign and send by registered post. In German.

For creditors in Switzerland, private persons and businesses, in German: 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 announces the request for debt enforcement (Betreibungsbegehren) otherwise. You then file that request on the debt collection office's form or online through EasyGov.swiss; this letter does not replace it. Send it by registered post and keep a copy.

For tenants in Switzerland with defects in their flat: the written notice of defects to the landlord or the agency. It describes the defects, sets a deadline to repair them (Art. 259a and 259b of the Code of Obligations, OR), asks for a rent reduction from the time the landlord knew of them (Art. 259d OR) and can give the written warning that rent will be deposited, which Art. 259g OR requires first. It names your canton's conciliation authority, whose procedure is free. Print, sign, enclose photos and send by registered post. In German.