What should you do in the event of a death?

Checklist if someone dies in Switzerland

• First steps: Call the police, the emergency services or a doctor to confirm the death depending on the situation. Inform relatives and close friends of the deceased’s passing. 
• Statutory days off when someone dies in Switzerland: Employment law in Switzerland provides for special leave if an employee has a death in their family. How many days off you are granted depends on the degree of the relationship between you and the deceased. Inform your employer that you need a few days off due to a death.
  
• Undertakers: Contact the undertakers to plan the funeral or cremation. Organise a funeral or memorial service.
  
• Legal steps: Check whether there is a valid will. Apply for a death certificate for official matters. Inform the authorities of the death.
  
• Financial matters: Check whether the deceased had life insurance or death benefits insurance. Contact the pension fund to find out about getting the pension fund assets paid out following the deceased’s death. Inform the bank of the deceased’s death and request access to their accounts if necessary.
  
• Inheritance and assets: Determine the deceased’s estate and assets. Find out about how the inheritance is to be distributed according to the will or law.
  
• Documents and organisational matters: Keep important documents such as the will or insurance documents close to hand. Make a list of contacts who need to be informed of the death.
  
• Emotional support: Seek support from friends, family or a professional grief counsellor during this difficult time.
  

• The pension fund forms part of pillar 2 of the Swiss pension system and contains saved funds that are primarily intended for retirement provision.
• After a death, the deceased’s saved pension fund assets are paid out to their surviving dependents or beneficiaries. In addition to their spouse or registered partner, this might also include children or financial dependents. 
  
• The surviving spouse or registered partner can also receive a lifelong pension instead of a payout. The pension fund may pay a widow’s or widower’s pension after death even if the deceased had already retired. The pension fund’s procedure depends on the individual arrangements.
  

• Pillar 3a forms part of the Swiss pension system and is used for private retirement provision. 
• When someone dies, the saved capital from pillar 3a is transferred to the deceased’s surviving dependents. Pillar 3a forms part of the inheritance.
  
• Certain conditions have to be met for pillar 3a capital to be transferred to heirs or beneficiaries. Spouses or registered partners can usually simply take over the saved capital. But taxes and fees may apply to the payout for other heirs.
  
• If a family member dies, contact the bank or the insurance company that the pillar 3a is held with at an early stage. Find out about the specific steps and the conditions that must be met when transferring the capital.
  

• Life insurance: With life insurance, after the insured person dies, a fixed sum of money is paid out to their beneficiaries or heirs. This enables them to cope with financial burdens such as funeral costs, outstanding debts or the loss of the deceased’s income.
• Death benefits insurance: Death benefits insurance is specifically designed to cover death. It pays out a sum agreed in advance to the beneficiaries when the insured person dies.
  
• Income protection insurance: Income protection or disability insurance can provide a lifelong pension or a lump-sum payment if the insured person permanently loses their earning capacity due to illness or accident. If the insured person dies, the insurance company can cancel the policy and pay the agreed benefits to the surviving dependants.
  
• Accident insurance: Accident insurance may pay out benefits if the insured person’s death is directly caused by an accident. This might be a one-off lump-sum payment or a pension for the surviving dependants.
  
• Pension fund: If the insured person dies, the pension fund may pay out a lump sum or a pension to the surviving dependents.

The exact conditions and benefits of the insurance policy in question may vary. Ask the insurance company directly.

Potential beneficiaries of life insurance if the insured person dies include:

• Spouse or registered partner
• Children
• Other relatives
• Other people or charitable organisations
• Heirs according to the will

How much is covered by a life insurance policy in Switzerland depends on various factors:

• Sum insured: The sum insured in the event of death is determined when the insurance policy is taken out. It may vary depending on the insured person’s individual needs and financial circumstances.
• Type of insurance: the sum insured may vary depending on the type of life insurance. There are different types of life insurance – such as pure death benefits insurance, combined insurance or endowment insurance.
  
• Contributions and term: The contribution amounts may influence how much is paid out in the event of death. The term of the insurance policy also plays a role.
  
• State of health and age: The insured person’s state of health and age may influence the sum insured and the premiums for some insurance policies.
  
• Optional add-ons: Some life insurance policies offer additional options, such as the extension of benefits in the event of death due to accident or illness.
  

When a life insurance policy pays out depends on various factors:

• Insurance company: Each insurance company has its own processes and policies for handling death benefits. 
• Documentation: The beneficiaries or heirs must submit the required documents and records. The later the necessary documents are submitted, the later the money will be paid out. 
  
• Clarification of claims: In some cases, it may be necessary to obtain certain information or clarify legal issues before the sum insured is paid out. This may take additional time.
  
• Investigations: Depending on the circumstances of the death or the insurance policy, it may be necessary to open an investigation to ensure that the death is in line with the terms set out in the insurance policy. This can affect the processing time.
  
• Complexity of the case: Processing may take longer in some cases – especially when larger sums are insured or when the policy contains special clauses.
  

Days off in the event of a death: In Switzerland, employees are entitled to paid time off if one of their relatives dies. The number of days depends on your relationship to the relative and your employment contract with your employer.

Regulations: Not much is regulated by law, but you usually get one to three days off if a sibling, parent or parent-in-law dies – and up to five days if your partner or own child dies.

Tip: Check the collective employment agreement (CEA) or your employment contract. Some employers offer more generous arrangements.