Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland (Ehevertrag)

A Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland (Ehevertrag) is a notarized contract between prospective or current spouses that modifies the default matrimonial property regime established by the Swiss Civil Code (Zivilgesetzbuch, ZGB) of 10 December 1907 (SR 210), governed specifically by Articles 181 through 195 of the ZGB which regulate the formation, content, and formal requirements of marital property contracts under Swiss Güterrecht (matrimonial property law). Article 181 ZGB grants spouses the fundamental right to enter into a marital property agreement before or during the marriage, choosing among the three property regimes recognized by Swiss federal law.

The default matrimonial property regime in Switzerland is the participation in acquisitions (Errungenschaftsbeteiligung / participation aux acquêts) under ZGB Articles 196 through 220. Under this regime, each spouse retains ownership of their own property (Eigengut / biens propres) — defined in ZGB Article 198 as assets owned before the marriage, gifts, inheritances, and personal-use items — while acquisitions (Errungenschaft / acquêts) accumulated during the marriage are subject to equal division upon dissolution. The Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht) in BGE 141 III 145 clarified that the increase in value of Eigengut attributable to efforts during the marriage may be classified as Errungenschaft for division purposes.

The two alternative regimes available through an Ehevertrag are community of property (Gütergemeinschaft / communauté de biens) under ZGB Articles 221 through 246, and separation of property (Gütertrennung / séparation de biens) under ZGB Articles 247 through 251. Under Gütergemeinschaft, all assets and debts of both spouses merge into a common fund (Gesamtgut / masse commune) except items specifically designated as individual property (Eigengut) — this regime is relatively uncommon in modern Swiss practice. Under Gütertrennung, each spouse maintains complete financial independence, with no division of acquired assets upon dissolution — this regime is frequently chosen by entrepreneurs, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals.

ZGB Article 184 imposes a mandatory notarization requirement (öffentliche Beurkundung / acte authentique) for all Eheverträge. The agreement must be authenticated by a licensed Swiss notary (Notar / notaire / notaio) in the canton where the notarization takes place. Notarial fees are regulated by cantonal tariffs — the Zurich Notarial Tariff Ordinance (Notariatsgebührenverordnung) and the Geneva Règlement fixant le tarif des émoluments des notaires establish fee scales based on the value of the assets involved. Both spouses must appear before the notary in person and declare their free will, and the notary must verify the identity and capacity (Handlungsfähigkeit under ZGB Article 13) of both parties.

The Ehevertrag interacts closely with Swiss succession law (Erbrecht) under ZGB Articles 457 through 640. Under ZGB Article 462, the surviving spouse's statutory inheritance share depends on which heirs survive — one-half of the estate if children survive, three-quarters if parents survive, and the entire estate if neither children nor parents survive. ZGB Articles 470 through 480 protect forced heirship rights (Pflichtteile / réserves héréditaires): children are entitled to three-quarters of their statutory share, and the surviving spouse is entitled to one-half of their statutory share. The Ehevertrag and a last will (Testament) together form the comprehensive estate plan, as the choice of matrimonial property regime directly affects the composition of the deceased spouse's estate subject to succession law.

The Swiss Federal Act on International Private Law (IPRG) of 18 December 1987 (SR 291) governs the choice of law for Eheverträge involving international elements. IPRG Article 52 permits spouses to choose the law of either spouse's nationality or the law of the state of their domicile to govern their matrimonial property regime, and IPRG Article 53 specifies that the formal validity of the Ehevertrag is governed by the law of the place where it is concluded. For Swiss-domiciled couples with international connections, the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Matrimonial Property Regimes of 14 March 1978 may also apply.

Swiss cantons maintain civil registries (Zivilstandsamt / office de l'état civil) where marriages are registered under the Federal Act on the Registration of Civil Status (Zivilstandsverordnung, ZStV, SR 211.112.2). The conclusion of an Ehevertrag does not require registration with the Zivilstandsamt, but the notarized document should be stored safely and referenced in any subsequent estate planning documents. The cantonal courts (Bezirksgericht / Tribunal de district) have jurisdiction over matrimonial property disputes under the Swiss Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO, SR 272) Article 23.

A Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland is needed whenever prospective or current spouses wish to deviate from the default matrimonial property regime of participation in acquisitions (Errungenschaftsbeteiligung) established by Article 196 of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB). Article 181 ZGB grants spouses the right to adopt a marital property agreement at any time before or during the marriage, provided the agreement is notarized (öffentlich beurkundet) under ZGB Article 184.

An Ehevertrag choosing separation of property (Gütertrennung) under ZGB Articles 247 through 251 is frequently executed when one or both spouses own or operate a business — whether a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen / entreprise individuelle), an Aktiengesellschaft (AG under OR Article 620), or a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH under OR Article 772) — to prevent the business assets and their appreciation from becoming subject to equalization claims (Ausgleichsforderungen) upon divorce or death. The Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht) in BGE 137 III 193 confirmed that under the default regime, the appreciation of business assets during the marriage constitutes Errungenschaft subject to division.

The agreement is essential when one spouse brings substantial pre-marital wealth — real estate registered in the Grundbuch (land register maintained by cantonal Grundbuchämter), securities portfolios held with Swiss banks, pension entitlements under the Federal Act on Occupational Retirement (BVG, SR 831.40), or intellectual property rights registered with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE) in Bern — and wishes to maintain clear boundaries between personal assets (Eigengut) and marital acquisitions (Errungenschaft).

Couples with international connections who are domiciled in Switzerland need an Ehevertrag to establish legal certainty regarding which law governs their property relations. Under IPRG Article 52, spouses may choose Swiss law, the national law of either spouse, or the law of their domicile state — an explicit choice prevents uncertainty when the couple later moves to another jurisdiction or when assets are located in multiple countries.

A valid Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland under the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) Articles 181 through 195 must satisfy mandatory formal and substantive requirements to be enforceable before Swiss courts and the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht) in Lausanne.

Notarization Requirement: ZGB Article 184 mandates that all Eheverträge be notarized through öffentliche Beurkundung (public authentication) by a licensed Swiss notary (Notar / notaire / notaio). The notary must verify the identity of both parties using official identification (Swiss passport, Identitätskarte / carte d'identité, or foreign passport with residence permit), confirm their legal capacity (Handlungsfähigkeit under ZGB Article 13 — both parties must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind under ZGB Article 16), and ensure both parties consent freely without duress or error. The notary reads the agreement aloud, both parties sign in the notary's presence, and the notary affixes the official seal and registers the instrument. Failure to comply with the notarization requirement renders the entire Ehevertrag void (nichtig) under ZGB Article 184 paragraph 2.

Identification of Spouses: Full legal names, dates of birth, nationalities, AHV numbers (AHV-Nr / No AVS — the 13-digit Swiss social security number in 756.XXXX.XXXX.XX format assigned under the Federal Act on Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance, AHVG, SR 831.10), residential addresses, and civil status registry information (Zivilstandsamt where the marriage is or will be registered). Both parties must have the capacity to contract under ZGB Article 13.

Choice of Matrimonial Property Regime: Explicit designation of the chosen regime — Errungenschaftsbeteiligung with modifications (ZGB Articles 196-220), Gütergemeinschaft (ZGB Articles 221-246), or Gütertrennung (ZGB Articles 247-251). Under ZGB Article 182, spouses may adopt, modify, or combine elements of the statutory regimes within the limits set by law. The Bundesgericht in BGE 132 III 598 confirmed that spouses may not create entirely novel property regimes outside the three codified options.

Asset Classification: Detailed inventory of each spouse's existing assets at the time of the agreement, classifying each item as Eigengut (own property under ZGB Article 198) or Errungenschaft (acquisitions under ZGB Article 197). Real property should be identified by the Grundbuch reference number and the cantonal Grundbuchamt. Bank accounts should be identified by IBAN and the holding institution. Securities and investment portfolios should reference the custody account (Depot) number.

Forms-legal.com provides this Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland template as a practical starting point. Given the notarization requirement under ZGB Article 184 and the significant financial implications, both spouses should consult independent legal counsel — a licensed Rechtsanwalt / avocat admitted to a cantonal bar association — before executing the Ehevertrag.

To prepare a Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland, begin by consulting an independent Swiss attorney (Rechtsanwalt / avocat) admitted to the relevant cantonal bar association. Each spouse should obtain separate legal advice to ensure informed consent and avoid conflicts of interest. Contact a licensed cantonal notary (Notar / notaire) well in advance — notaries in major Swiss cities such as Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Basel, and Lausanne are listed in the cantonal notary directories (Notariatsverzeichnis). Prepare certified copies of official identification documents (Swiss passport, Identitätskarte, or foreign passport with residence permit), AHV-Nr certificates (AHV-Ausweis), and a comprehensive asset inventory including Grundbuch references for real estate, IBAN details for bank accounts, and Depot numbers for securities portfolios. Both spouses must appear in person before the notary; remote or proxy signing is not permitted. The notary will authenticate the agreement under ZGB Article 184, affix the official seal, and provide certified copies to both parties. The original is retained in the notary's register.

The Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland must comply with the mandatory requirements of ZGB Articles 181-251. Notarization under ZGB Article 184 is non-waivable — an unnotarized Ehevertrag is absolutely void. Both parties must possess legal capacity (Handlungsfähigkeit) under ZGB Article 13. The chosen property regime must be one of the three recognized regimes under ZGB Articles 196-251. Modifications under ZGB Article 182 are permitted within statutory limits. Forced heirship shares under ZGB Articles 470-480 cannot be overridden by an Ehevertrag. The mandatory pension splitting (Vorsorgeausgleich) upon divorce under ZGB Articles 122-124e is not affected by the chosen matrimonial property regime. In cantons applying the Lex Koller restrictions (BewG, SR 211.412.41) to certain property acquisitions, the Ehevertrag must also address any resulting property regime implications.

The most frequent error is attempting to create an Ehevertrag without mandatory notarization under ZGB Article 184 — a handwritten or typed document signed by both spouses without notarial authentication has zero legal effect. Another common mistake is failing to distinguish clearly between Eigengut (ZGB Article 198) and Errungenschaft (ZGB Article 197) in the asset inventory, leading to disputes during divorce or estate proceedings. Couples also err by relying on a single attorney representing both spouses — each party should have independent legal counsel. Forgetting to update the Ehevertrag after major changes in circumstances — inheritance of substantial assets, founding of a business, or significant changes in wealth — is another pitfall. Finally, many couples neglect the succession law interaction: the Ehevertrag must be coordinated with a Testament or Erbvertrag to achieve the intended estate planning outcome, particularly regarding the Vorschlagszuweisung under ZGB Article 216.