Pension equalisation in Switzerland

Things to bear in mind in the pension equalisation procedure

The Swiss pension fund assets accumulated during the marriage are divided after a divorce. If spouses divorce outside Switzerland, for example in Germany or France, and at least one spouse was gainfully employed in Switzerland during the marriage, it is mandatory to initiate supplementary proceedings for the division of the pension fund assets after the divorce has become final and absolute.

Switzerland does not recognise a division of the Swiss pension fund assets ordered by a foreign court. Only a Swiss court can legally divide the pension assets between the spouses. The competent Swiss pension fund will neither divide the pension fund assets nor pay out the ordinary pension without a ruling by the competent Swiss court.

The details for the supplementary proceedings should ideally be settled before the divorce proceedings are initiated in Germany or France.