Law of persons and family law

Who is responsible for debts when you are an adult student? "My 18-year-old daughter is doing an apprenticeship and wants to leave home, but I've heard that parents remain responsible for their children's actions and debts after they come of age. What exactly is the situation? Suzanne, Chêne-Bougeries Since 1 January 1996, the age of majority in...

Should you help your parents? "Someone told me that I'd have to pay a maintenance contribution to my parents if they needed it. My parents have hardly taken any care of me, so I wouldn't find such a prospect at all amusing. Can you shed some light on this for me?" Corinne, Grand-Saconnex It's true that when you...

Swiss son, Thai mother: what reunification? I am the father of a child born in Thailand to a Thai mother to whom I am not married. If our child comes to live with me in Switzerland, will she be able to join us by applying for family reunification? Colin, Geneva The law states that Swiss nationality is automatically...

Can I divorce my wife without her consent? "Having been violently assaulted by my wife, I had to flee my home. I had to go to A&E and was under the care of a doctor for a fortnight. Can I start divorce proceedings without her consent and without waiting two years? If so, this...

Alternating custody: how do you go about it? "I've been separated from my wife for several years. When we separated, I was awarded custody of my son. Despite the good relationship with my wife, we still want to divorce and ask for alternating custody, so how do we go about it? Thierry, Vaud The rule is that in...

Change of name " I recently heard that children of divorced parents can now apply to change their surname if they wish to bear the same name as their mother when they live with her. Is this true? How do you go about it? Charlotte, Geneva In the section dealing with the protection of personality, article...

Certificate of living person " Divorced and retired, I have been paying a pension to my ex-wife since 1979. On numerous occasions I have asked my ex-wife's lawyer to provide me with a certificate stating that she is still alive, but I have never received it. As I have not received this certificate, I have...

Baby on the way: what to plan for? "I've been living with my partner for many years. We're going to have a child soon and I've heard that it's advisable to make an acknowledgement of paternity and an agreement to obtain joint parental authority, if possible before the birth; is this true?" Tania, Geneva...

Acquiring Swiss nationality Swiss nationality is transmitted according to the principle of "droit du sang", as in most European countries, i.e. by descent, and not according to the principle of "droit du sol" linked to place of birth, as is the case on the American or Australian continents....