In Switzerland, any adult with legal capacity can write a 100% legally binding last will and testament without hiring an expensive notary or lawyer. Under Article 505 of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB / CC), a holographic (handwritten) will must be written entirely by hand from start to finish, contain the exact date (day, month, year) and location of drafting, and bear the testator's personal handwritten signature.

🛡️ Reviewed & Verified under the Swiss Civil Code (2023 Reform) by the OnlineDokument.ch Legal Team:
Since January 1, 2023, Swiss inheritance law provides testators with greater freedom: parents no longer have mandatory forced heirship rights, and children's statutory shares are reduced to 1/2 of their statutory portion.

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The 3 Types of Wills Under Swiss Law

  • Holographic Will (Art. 505 ZGB): Written, dated, and signed entirely by hand. Most common, cost-effective, and fully legally binding.
  • Public / Notarial Will (Art. 499 ZGB): Drawn up by a public notary in the presence of two independent witnesses. Recommended for complex international asset structures.
  • Emergency / Oral Will (Art. 506 ZGB): Only permitted under extraordinary circumstances (imminent risk of death) declared before two witnesses.

Key Rules for Expats Living in Switzerland (Professio Juris)

If you are a foreign national residing in Switzerland, Swiss Private International Law (IPRG / LDIP Art. 90) permits you to choose whether your estate is governed by Swiss inheritance law or the national law of your citizenship (known as Professio Juris). This clause must be explicitly stated in your Swiss will.

Step-by-Step: How to Draft Your Swiss Will

  1. Inventory Your Assets: List your Swiss bank accounts, real estate, and international possessions.
  2. Determine Forced Heirship Shares (Pflichtteil): Ensure surviving spouses and biological/adopted children receive their minimum statutory shares.
  3. Allocate the Freely Disposable Quota: Designate unmarried partners, friends, or charitable foundations.
  4. Appoint an Executor (Willensvollstrecker): Designate a reliable third party or legal professional to handle probate and asset distribution.
  5. Write by Hand, Date, and Sign: Copy the text on plain paper, add the place and date (e.g., Zurich, 14 September 2026), and sign at the bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type my Swiss will on a computer and print it?

No. A typed and printed will is legally void under Swiss law unless it is formally executed before a notary public with two witnesses. For DIY wills, every word must be handwritten.