Abstract:

In Switzerland family law is regulated in the Swiss Civil Code that came into force in 1912. The Swiss Civil Code remained almost untouched for sixty years. Since the 1970s, however, it has been amended and reformed step by step in many different areas. This article gives an overview on the current Swiss family law as well as the recent developments and reforms. Amongst others it addresses the Swiss legal rules on marriage and divorce, unmarried cohabitation and same-sex relationships as well as the legal rules concerning children, such as parentage, adoption, parental responsibility and child support. It further briefly describes the Swiss rules on names as well as change of legal gender and concludes with some remarks about the future of Swiss family law.

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