Finances After a Partner’s Death in Switzerland

Learn / Retirement Planning

When a partner dies, survivors are often plunged into financial chaos. Bank accounts get frozen, the brokerage account becomes inaccessible, bills keep arriving — and nobody explains what to do next.

At the same time, very few Swiss residents have their succession properly arranged: no will, no power of attorney, no documentation. The result? Months of bureaucracy, unnecessary costs, and a surviving partner who has no idea what to do with the family's wealth.

This guide covers everything you need to know — from the first hours after a death through inheritance law and taxes to the concrete preparations you can make today. For married couples, unmarried partners, and families living in Switzerland.

What happens immediately after death?

In Switzerland, when a person dies, all bank accounts and brokerage accounts are temporarily frozen. The bank must verify that the heirs are correctly identified before releasing any funds. In practice, this means:

• Joint accounts are restricted to a single authorised person — but only if a power of attorney was granted beforehand
• Individual accounts and portfolios are completely frozen until a certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) is issued
• Standing orders (rent, health insurance, other insurance) may continue running for 1–3 months depending on the bank, then they stop
• Credit cards belonging to the deceased are cancelled immediately

The freeze typically lasts 4–8 weeks, but can take significantly longer with complex estates — multiple heirs, contested wills, or foreign assets. Delays of up to 6 months are not uncommon.

---

AHV, pension fund and Pillar 3a: What is the surviving partner entitled to?

AHV widow's/widower's pension (1st Pillar)

Women receive a widow's pension if, at the time of the husband's death, they have at least one child or are over 45 years old and have been married for at least 5 years. The widow's pension amounts to 80% of the deceased's retirement pension — up to a maximum of CHF 1,960/month (2026). Men receive a widower's pension only as long as they have minor children.

For unmarried couples (Konkubinat), there is no entitlement to AHV survivor benefits — a significant financial disadvantage compared to married couples.

Pension fund (2nd Pillar)

Most pension funds pay the surviving spouse a partner pension of 60% of the insured retirement pension — for life. On top of that, there is often a one-time death benefit. The exact benefits vary considerably between pension funds — check the pension fund statement (PK-Ausweis) for both partners.

Pillar 3a

Pillar 3a assets go to the surviving spouse (or registered partner). For unmarried couples, the partner must be explicitly named in the beneficiary order — otherwise the money goes to parents or siblings. The payout is taxed as a capital benefit (separately, at a reduced rate).

---

What happens to the stock portfolio?

If the deceased partner held a portfolio of stocks, ETFs or funds at a bank or broker (e.g. Swissquote, PostFinance, IBKR), here is what happens:

The account is frozen until the succession is clarified. The securities remain in place — they are not automatically sold. Their value, of course, continues to fluctuate with the market. Once the certificate of inheritance is presented, the securities can be transferred to an heir's account or sold.

Taxes on inherited assets

In most Swiss cantons, inheritances between spouses are tax-free. Children also pay little or no inheritance tax in many cantons. Crucially, Switzerland levies no capital gains tax on private securities. Stocks with large unrealised gains can be sold tax-free — an enormous advantage of the Swiss tax system.

Heir	Most cantons	Exceptions
Spouse	Tax-free	Tax-free in all 26 cantons
Children	Tax-free or very low	VD, NE, LU: up to 3.5%
Siblings	5–15%	Varies significantly by canton
Non-relatives	15–40%	SZ, OW: no inheritance tax at all

The most common problem: Missing documentation

Only one partner knows the login credentials for the brokerage account, understands why each stock was purchased, and has a strategy. The other partner is left staring at a screen full of ticker symbols with no idea what to do.

---

Swiss inheritance law since 2023: What you need to know

Swiss inheritance law was fundamentally revised on 1 January 2023. Here are the most important changes:

Statutory succession (without a will)

• Spouse + children: The spouse receives half, the other half is divided equally among the children
• Spouse, no children: The spouse receives three-quarters; one quarter goes to the parents (or their descendants)
• No spouse, no children: Parents inherit everything, then siblings

Compulsory portions (reduced since 2023)

• Children: Half of their statutory share (previously: three-quarters)
• Spouse: Half of their statutory share
• Parents: Since 2023, no compulsory portion at all — this significantly increases your flexibility

The freely disposable portion — the share you can distribute as you wish — has grown substantially since 2023. For a married couple with children, it now amounts to half the estate (previously only one quarter). This gives you far more room to maximise benefits for your surviving partner.

---

Will, advance directive and powers of attorney

Why everyone needs a will

A will is not just for millionaires. Even with modest assets, it settles critical questions: maximum benefit for the surviving spouse (beyond the statutory half), usufruct rights (the partner may use the assets while the principal eventually passes to the children), partition rules (who gets the house, the stocks, the savings account?), and bequests to people outside the line of succession.

A handwritten will is valid if it is entirely written by hand, dated, and signed. A typed will is only valid with notarial certification. Notary costs: CHF 500–2,000 depending on complexity.

Advance directive (Vorsorgeauftrag): For the situation before death

What happens if you don't die, but become incapacitated through an accident, stroke, or dementia? Without an advance directive, the KESB (Child and Adult Protection Authority) decides — a bureaucratic process that can take months and cost thousands of francs.

With an advance directive, you determine who manages your financial and personal affairs. It must be handwritten or notarised and only takes effect when actual incapacity occurs.

Bank power of attorney

A bank power of attorney allows your partner to access accounts even after death, without waiting for the certificate of inheritance. Important: "beyond death" (über den Tod hinaus) must be explicitly stated. Clarify this directly with your bank.

---

The document checklist: Prepare now

Create a folder (physical or digital, with a backup) containing the following information:

Financial documents

• List of all bank accounts and brokerage accounts (bank, IBAN, login credentials)
• Pension fund statements (PK-Ausweis) for both partners
• Pillar 3a accounts (institution, account number)
• Insurance policies (life insurance, household, liability, supplementary health)
• Tax returns (last 3 years)
• Mortgage documents and rental agreements
• Salary statements or pension confirmations

Legal documents

• Will (original + location of the deposited copy)
• Marriage contract (Ehevertrag) if applicable
• Advance directive (Vorsorgeauftrag)
• Bank powers of attorney
• Patient decree (Patientenverfügung)

Practical information

• Password manager master password (or password list)
• Contact details: notary, tax advisor, employer, insurance agents
• Funeral wishes
• Digital accounts: email password, social media, cloud storage

---

The "what-if" letter: A concrete example

Write a document titled: "What to do if I'm no longer here." It should contain:

• The first 5 phone calls: (1) Family doctor/hospital, (2) Funeral home, (3) Employer, (4) Bank — activate power of attorney, (5) Tax advisor/notary
• Where the documents are: Physical folder (location), digital folder (access), password manager (master password)
• What should happen with the money: "Don't sell anything in a rush. The portfolio keeps running. If you need advice, contact [name/firm]. Avoid bank advisors who want to sell you expensive products."
• Who can help: Name and contact details of a trusted person with financial knowledge

It sounds morbid. But it is the greatest act of love you can give your partner.

---

The solution: A portfolio both partners understand

For many Swiss couples — an experienced investor married to an inexperienced partner — the most elegant solution is a portfolio that is simple enough for both:

• Professionally managed quality portfolio: Instead of 15 individual stocks, a diversified portfolio of the world's best companies. Assembled by arvy, FINMA-regulated, with a KAG licence. → Quality Investing explained
• Automatic savings plan: From CHF 1/month. Set it up once, it runs automatically — even after one partner passes away. → The standing order as your strongest ally
• Low, transparent fees: 0.69–0.89% management fee + 0.15–0.22% product costs. No hidden charges. → All fees in detail
• Founders invest alongside you: Florian, Patrick and Thierry each have over CHF 100,000 in the same portfolio. → Skin in the Game
• Simple enough for both: The app is designed so that even a partner without stock market experience can understand what's happening in the portfolio.
• Transferable: In the event of inheritance, shares can simply be transferred to the surviving partner — without having to liquidate the portfolio.
• Two paths: Either via the arvy app (savings plan from CHF 1/month) or as the arvy Equity Fund through your existing bank account — Valor 130614478. No new account needed. → Equity Fund details

The concrete steps: Gradually sell existing individual stocks (not all at once — spread the timing risk), transfer the proceeds to arvy, and set up a savings plan. Your partner receives app access and can see at any time how the wealth is invested. In Switzerland, this is possible tax-free thanks to the absence of capital gains tax.

The best investment strategy is one that both partners understand — and that runs on autopilot.

More articles: Investing in Switzerland: The Beginner's Guide → · Budget Calculator: From gross salary to investment budget → · What does investing cost? The fee comparison → · Investing in turbulent times → · Glossary: 89 financial terms explained → · FIRE Calculator: When are you financially free? → · Savings Rate Calculator → · Compound Interest Calculator → · Skin in the Game: Why we invest our own money →

---

This article was written by Team arvy. Last updated March 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute personal investment, tax or legal advice. For individual questions, please consult a qualified professional. arvy is a FINMA-supervised asset manager with a KAG licence. Legal Notice