Switzerland accepts people living together in a variety of forms. Many couples live together without being married (cohabitation) and also have children together. These couples have the option of concluding a cohabitation agreement that governs, for example, what belongs to whom, or how the household costs are divided. If the partners bring children from a previous relationship into the family, we also refer to a “blended family”. How the man and woman divide up the roles and jobs is flexible.

Same-sex couples are accepted in Switzerland and have the option of registering their partnership. This gives the partners rights and obligations. The www.ch.ch website contains a summary of the key personal and financial consequences of registering a same-sex partnership. The Registry Office for the community where you live can tell you about the requirements to be met and the steps you will have to take.