Modern
family law
Specialized legal advice on divorce, child matters, asset protection, and modern family law.
Cohabitation, rainbow families, medically assisted conception, co-parenting, and blended families: These ways of life have long been part of everyday reality—but Swiss law only partially reflects them. Since the entry into force of the “Marriage For All Act” (July 1, 2022), same-sex couples are allowed to marry and adopt jointly and married female couples have access to sperm donation. However, many other aspects remain unregulated or prohibited—such as egg donation and surrogacy—which is why prospective parents often turn to other countries and encounter issues regarding legal recognition here. We are aware of these gaps and develop viable solutions before they become problems.
Modern families need a lawyer they do not have to explain themselves to. We have always focused exclusively on family law and are highly specialized—including in living arrangements that the law still overlooks. For you, this means: no anonymous firm with changing staff and a lot of delegation, but rather personal, close support.
Where the law leaves gaps, strategy is key: a well-drafted cohabitation agreement, a thoughtfully structured parenting arrangement, and estate planning that also protects unmarried partners. Because such cases are rarely purely legal, we work—where your case requires it—in collaboration with financial planners, psychologists, and communication specialists—in a coordinated and discreet manner. Discretion is the foundation of trust.
When the recognition of a parent-child relationship is at stake, we stand by your side—and where necessary, we fight for it together, also through the courts. If a situation suddenly becomes urgent, we act immediately.
Modern families, in particular, often span national borders. Our firm is active in both German- and French-speaking Switzerland and collaborates with partner firms in more than 80 countries worldwide—a crucial factor whenever medical treatment, a birth, or a parent is located abroad.
What is your current
situation?
Securing a relationship without a marriage license. Unmarried couples in Switzerland have virtually little legal protection: no spousal support, no division of marital property, no automatic inheritance rights, and no division of pension benefits. A cohabitation agreement can narrow these gaps—especially when joint assets, a home, or children are involved.
Rights for rainbow families. Since the introduction of marriage equality (July 1, 2022), same-sex couples have been able to marry and adopt jointly, and married female couples have access to sperm donation. However, questions remain regarding parenthood, international situations, and existing registered partnerships—which we will clarify for you.
Pursuing parenthood with legal certainty. Switzerland currently only allows sperm donation; egg donation and surrogacy are prohibited. A reform is in the making. Anyone seeking treatment abroad needs a well-thought-out strategy to ensure that their parenthood is recognized and not criminalized in Switzerland.
Parenting beyond the traditional model. Whether it is a consciously chosen co-parenting arrangement or a patchwork family that has grown together over time, custody, care, child support, and the role of step-parents can all be structured. Clear agreements—and, if necessary, the adoption of stepchildren—provide security for everyone involved.
In Switzerland, very few of these rights are automatically addressed. Unmarried couples have no legal right to spousal support or the split of marital property, no automatic inheritance rights, and no division of retirement savings. The only matter that is regulated is the genetic parenthood of their children. Clients who want to protect their interests need a cohabitation agreement, a beneficiary designation in their pension plan, and a will. We tailor these three components to work together seamlessly.
Yes. “Marriage for All” has been in effect since July 1, 2022: same-sex couples can marry and adopt a child together. Married female couples also have access to sperm donation in Switzerland. Existing registered partnerships remain valid and can be converted into marriages; new ones have not been established since July 2022.
Not at this time. Only sperm donation is permitted under certain conditions; egg donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy are prohibited. Anyone undergoing treatment abroad should clarify the recognition of parenthood in advance.
This is a sensitive issue and depends on the individual case. Switzerland does not automatically recognize foreign surrogacy arrangements; the Federal Supreme Court has taken a nuanced approach to legal parenthood in such cases, usually recognizing only the genetically related parent and requiring stepchild adoption for the other parent. Early, careful planning is crucial—ideally before undergoing treatment abroad.
A co-parenting agreement can outline expectations regarding care, child support, and decision-making, and serves as an important foundation. Legally, however, custody and care are always determined by the child’s best interests, not solely by the parents’ agreement. This makes it all the more important to clearly establish legal parenthood from the outset—supplemented, if necessary, by stepchild adoption.