A divorce entails various practical consequences. Here you will find an overview.
Change of civil status
After the divorce, the civil status is "divorced". The court informs the registry office, which informs the municipalities of residence and the tax authorities.
Change of name of a spouse
After divorce, a spouse is free to decide whether to continue using the marital name or to return to the former surname. If you take no action, you will keep the surname acquired through marriage. However, you can return to the single name at any time. There is no time limit for this. A declaration at any civil registry office in Switzerland is sufficient for a name change.
Change of name of children
Children generally retain their previous surname after a divorce. However, a change can be requested if it is in the child's interest, namely with regard to the unity of the family name with the main caring parent.
Notifications to authorities and contractual partners
A name change must be communicated to the various authorities with whom one is in contact or who have issued identification documents (driver's license, passport, etc.). Contractual partners must also be notified of a name change (landlord, employer, health insurance company, lessor, bank, etc.). In the case of foreign citizenship, the state concerned must be informed and, if necessary, requested to make adjustments to its registers and identity documents.
Pension funds and vested benefits institutions
These are requested by the court to make any payments.
Land registries
The court shall issue instructions to these if necessary
Notifications to the migration offices
The court has to report a divorce of foreigners to the competent cantonal immigration office.
AHV - splitting
After a divorce, the pension entitlement from AHV/IV is recalculated as a result of income splitting (splitting). You should inform your compensation office immediately about the divorce. You can do this using the form "Notification for the implementation of income splitting in case of divorce" form. Notification by one spouse is sufficient. In case of dissolution of the registered partnership, there is no AHV splitting.
AHV - education credits
Parents who take care of children receive AHV - education credits. You can register them when you register to receive an old-age or disability pension. To do so, submit a copy of the divorce decree.
AHV - contribution payments of divorced persons who are not gainfully employed
Divorced spouses without earned income must pay AHV contributions to avoid contribution gaps. According to Art. 10 para. 1 AHVG, they are obliged to register with the competent compensation office. You can find more information here.
Cost-of-living adjustment of maintenance contributions
The relevant consumer price index can be found at here.
Communication with the divorced spouse
Communication with the divorced spouse is often demanding, but important in the interest of joint children. It can be helpful to agree on deviations from the normal rhythm of care and vacation times in good time and to include the children in an age-appropriate way.
