Wills, bequests

If you do not make a will, the statutory rules of succession apply. The law determines who inherits your estate and in what proportions.

Statutory heirs are considered in a specific order:

• First, your descendants inherit (children, grandchildren, etc.).
• If there are no descendants, your parents or their descendants inherit (for example, siblings, nieces or nephews).

Only if there are none of these heirs do your grandparents or their descendants inherit.

Your spouse or registered partner also has a statutory right to inherit and, depending on your family circumstances, inherits alongside your relatives.

If there are no statutory heirs, the estate passes to the competent public authority.

Your spouse or registered partner and your descendants are entitled to a legally protected minimum share of your estate. This is known as the compulsory share.

You are free to decide how the remaining part of your estate, known as the freely disposable portion, is distributed. In your will, you can use this portion to benefit, for example, other relatives, people close to you or non-profit organisations.

A handwritten will must be written entirely by hand from beginning to end, include the full date and be signed. Alternatively, a public will can be drawn up with the involvement of an authorised official and two witnesses.

Yes. You can amend, supplement or revoke your will at any time, provided you have the capacity of judgement. It is important that any changes also comply with the statutory formal requirements and that you avoid creating conflicting versions of your will.

Keep your will in a safe place where it can be found after your death. Depending on the canton, it can, for example, be deposited with the competent authority or a notary. You should inform someone you trust where your will is kept.

A bequest, also known as a legacy, allows you to leave a specific sum of money or a particular asset to a person or organisation. The beneficiary does not become part of the community of heirs but is entitled to claim the bequest from the heirs.

Heirs, on the other hand, receive a share of the entire estate. This means they assume not only assets, but also the rights and obligations associated with the estate.

A bequest should be worded clearly and unambiguously in your will. Identify the person or organisation you wish to benefit, as well as the sum of money or asset you wish to leave, as precisely as possible. This helps to avoid uncertainty when the estate is subsequently administered.

Yes. You can include a bequest to a non-profit organisation in your will. For example, you can leave it a specific sum of money, property, securities or another asset without making the organisation an heir. It is important to identify the organisation clearly by stating its full official name, registered office and, where appropriate, its address. This helps ensure that your wishes are carried out as intended.