As most of these rights and obligations are pecuniary in nature, the main purpose of inheritance law is to regulate the fate of a person's assets on death.
Inheritance law in Switzerland is governed by the Swiss Civil Code (articles 457 to 640).
Those who receive the property are called successors, heirs or legatees, depending on their position in the de cujus succession.
The first traces of inheritance law in Switzerland date back to the 11th century.
459 al. 4 CC) -- the entire estate falls to the line in which there are heirs.
Swiss law recognizes the de cujus's power to designate persons other than his intestate heirs to succeed him, whether or not in concurrence with them.
The institution of heirs is effected by means of a disposition mortis causa (in a will or an inheritance agreement).
Inheritance law grants them a share of the estate that the deceased cannot dispose of.
Reserved heirs include descendants and the surviving spouse (art.
The revision of inheritance law which came into force on January 1, 2023[4] abolished the reserved right of parents.
In the absence of a disposition mortis causa, several situations can be distinguished: These principles also apply when the deceased has disposed of all or part of his estate by reason of death.