The service charge apportionment key " My service charges increase from year to year by 10 to 30 %! Before 2017, each tenant received their hot water meter reading and had to pay what they had used. Now, the total hot water bill for the dozens of tenants in my building is divided up according to the surface area of the...
Does the SNB have the right to act alone? "How is it legally possible for the Swiss National Bank to decide on its own to deprive tens or even hundreds of thousands of people of their job opportunities, without even referring to our country's government or the parliament elected by the people?" Ben, Neuchâtel Art. 99...
The independence of judges at the Federal Supreme Court Is it normal for a Vaud judge on our Federal Supreme Court to rule on a Vaud case? Do the other cantons allow such a practice? Daniel The right to be judged by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal is guaranteed by Article 30 of the Federal Constitution, so it is mandatory in any case...
Tax on rental value " I own the flat I live in. How does the so-called "rental value" tax work, and how is it calculated?" Yves, Geneva As the owner of a property, you are not only subject to wealth tax, but also to tax on the rental value of your...
Honour and defamation "I would like to know whether honour is still protected by the law. It has been reported to me that someone knowingly spoke disparagingly of me this summer, claiming in particular that I had committed various offences, which is not in fact the case. I have the impression that these days the...
The heirship and its disagreements When a person dies, Swiss law provides that all the heirs, whether legal or instituted, form the "community of heirs". This community, more commonly known as the "heirship", is a stage in the liquidation of the estate until each of the heirs individually becomes the owner of the share to which they are entitled....
Exercising joint parental authority "I have a child over whom I have joint custody and parental authority. However, his father requires me to ask for his consent for any activity our son undertakes, whether it's moving within a 2 km radius or simply allowing him to spend the night at a friend's house! According to...
The state of lawful necessity" There has been a lot of press coverage of this ruling on the occupation of a Crédit Suisse branch by climate activists. I was astonished to read that the defendants were acquitted by the court on the grounds of "lawful necessity". What conditions must be met...
Can a lawyer withdraw from a client at any time? "My lawyer recently decided to stop defending me, citing an allegedly aggressive tone in one of my letters. Did he have the right to do this while the proceedings were still in progress? Is there anything I can claim? Richard, Geneva The lawyer is bound...
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