Civil marriage: before the registrar, on the conditions in the code
Updated on October 24, 2026
Only civil marriage has effects in Switzerland. It is celebrated before the registrar at the domicile of one of the fiancés, after a preparatory procedure. The fiancés must be 18 and capable of judgement. The Civil Code prohibits marriage between relatives in the direct line and between siblings, and the marriage of a person who is already married. A religious ceremony may follow; it does not replace the civil act. The documents required depend on nationality and are checked with the competent registry office.
What the code says
The ordinary matrimonial property regime is participation in acquisitions, unless there is a marriage contract in authentic form. Names follow article 160 CC: each spouse keeps their name, and they may choose a shared family name.