Know where to start if someone dies
Overview
Rare, heavy, and easier with a map.
The question you never knew to ask“What would we have to do if someone in our family died here?”
Why it matters
A death far from family means official steps in a system you do not know yet. Knowing where the checklist lives, and where your own documents are, spares the people left behind.
Does this apply to me?
Your circumstances: Canton Bern, B permit, mixed nationalities, family with children, moving with a partner, arriving soon
It applies to every household moving to Switzerland.
When?
Whenever you are ready.
What do I need?
Nothing to prepare beyond your own notes.
What do I do next?
- Read the official checklist so you know where to start.
- Keep a note of where your wills, insurance policies and pension documents are.
- Ask a lawyer whether a will made abroad covers what you own in Switzerland.
Official guidance
Read official guidance from the Swiss authorities' joint information site (federal, cantonal and communal):
ch.ch: what to do if someone diesRead official guidance from the Swiss authorities' joint information site (federal, cantonal and communal):
ch.ch: wills and contracts of succession