The Local Switzerland

Switzerland to relax rules around foreign names

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:17:29 +0200

Swiss residents with names that include special characters from European languages other than German or French can now change how their names are recorded in the country's records.

OPINION: Swiss childcare culture and divorce laws mean women are losing out

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 10:41:22 +0100

The high costs of childcare in Switzerland, the culture for family-based care and recent Federal Court decisions made in the guise of equality all mean that women in Switzerland are at a disadvantage, Clare O’Dea writes.

Most people in Switzerland prefer same-culture marriages, study shows

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:07:55 +0100

A new study shows that while young people in Switzerland are open to the notion of diversity, they prefer to marry someone from the same culture.

Swiss Protestant church supports gay marriage

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:05:40 +0100

The Federation of Protestant Churches of Switzerland (FEPS) announced that it supports civil marriage between same-sex individuals.

Swiss government wants to end tax penalty for married couples

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:10:08 +0100

The Federal Council – Switzerland’s seven-member government – has set out plans to remove the current federal tax penalty on married couples to make things fairer and encourage more people into the workforce.

Few men take their wife’s name upon marriage

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 11:22:05 +0100

When it comes to deciding on their married name, Swiss couples prefer to stick with tradition.

How to have a wonderful wedding in Switzerland

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:58:32 +0100

Recently engaged and considering getting married in Switzerland? Tying the knot away from your home country may seem a minefield. Here, The Local takes you through the legalities and offers some tips for staging a wonderful Swiss wedding from someone who’s done it.

International marriages dominate in Switzerland

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:22:17 +0200

Fewer than half the weddings that took place in Switzerland last year were between two native Swiss people.

Hopes rise for gay marriage in Switzerland

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:16:24 +0200

Following the German parliament’s decision to legalize gay marriage, campaigners are hopeful a similar move will follow soon in Switzerland.

More babies born in Switzerland than for 45 years

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 10:53:17 +0200

There were more babies born in Switzerland in 2016 than in any year since 1972, official statistics show.

Swiss court vetoes wedding of couple with 50-year age gap

Fri, 20 May 2016 12:39:20 +0200

A court in the canton of Vaud has refused the marriage application of a 71-year-old great-grandmother and her 21-year-old fiancé.

Tradition still sways married Swiss women

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 14:20:46 +0200

Only one in five women married in Switzerland since 2013 chose to keep her maiden name after marriage since the law changed to allow them to do so.

Expat's time in Zurich inspires racy novel

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 12:34:34 +0200

Zurich’s high standard of living makes it a popular destination for expats, but linguistic and cultural hurdles can make for a lonely and alienating existence for trailing spouses, as depicted in Jill Alexander Essbaum’s erotically-charged novel Hausfrau.

Kidnap rate spikes as Swiss marry foreigners

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:34:00 +0100

More children than ever before are being abducted in Switzerland - and a rise in the number of Swiss people marrying foreigners is being blamed.

Justice ministry seeks to close marriage loophole

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0100

A Zurich court looks set to close a loophole in a new law that bars people without legal status from marrying Swiss nationals.

Parents to share child custody in Switzerland

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:38:15 +0100

The Swiss government has decided separated parents should automatically have joint custody of their children except in cases involving the specific protection of the child.

Liechtenstein approves gay unions

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:29:00 +0200

Liechtenstein has voted to officially recognize gay civil partnerships, in a law closely modelled on Switzerland's legislation.

Swiss consider electronic tags for violent husbands

Tue, 31 May 2011 13:04:00 +0200

The Swiss parliament is considering forcing violent husbands to wear an electronic tag, allowing authorities to check they don’t go too close to their wives.