Law of persons and family law

Who has to pay for accommodation in an EMS? "My father is 94 years old and has just moved into a retirement home. Obviously, the amount of his AVS pension is insufficient to pay for his accommodation. So I appealed to the social services. I was told that I would have to contribute towards the cost of...

What rights do separated fiancés have? "I recently got engaged to my partner and we made a number of commitments in preparation for our wedding. In particular, I paid a deposit to reserve the hall where we planned to celebrate our union. I also bought him an expensive watch. But then he...

What surname for my child? "I've been going through divorce proceedings for a year now. I recently settled down with my new partner and I'm about to give birth to our child. What happens if our child is born before the divorce is finalized? Maria, Geneva Under article...

What impact does a divorce have on AHV? I read one of your columns on the system of property separation in the event of divorce. In it, you explained that it is possible, under a marriage contract, to make a clear separation between the assets of each spouse. If this is the case, what happens to the AVS? Roberto, Geneva...

What does it really mean to be domiciled somewhere? "I'm often asked the question "Are you domiciled in Switzerland? What exactly does "being domiciled" mean? Can you just have an address, or do you have to file your papers, take out health insurance, pay tax, etc? Véronique, Vaud The legal concept of domicile is...

What can an unmarried mother get? "I had a daughter 6 months ago from a relationship that ended shortly before she was born. I wasn't married to the father, but he recognised her. But he refused to pay a penny, to see her or look after her. I...

When the father is misled" I was very interested in your article last week on medical liability in the event of an unwanted pregnancy. What happens when it's the mother of the child who misleads the father by claiming that she can't get pregnant, which turns out to be incorrect? Is it possible to claim...

What does the birth certificate say? "I recently requested a birth certificate for myself, and the extract I received does not contain the following details: my mother's place of origin, my parents' dates of birth, and their place of residence at the time of my birth. Should they have given them to me?

What is AVS splitting? "Someone recently told me about an AVS splitting that you have to apply for after a divorce. What exactly is this? Do I need to take any special steps? Pascal, Geneva Under the Federal Law on Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance, the ordinary AVS pension is calculated on the...