Amicable divorce when you have children
With children under 18, the agreement must settle their situation fully. The judge checks that the agreement is in their best interests.
What the agreement must settle
- Parental authority: joint as a general rule.
- Custody: with one parent or shared.
- Contact: the time spent with the other parent.
- Child maintenance: amount, indexation, family allowances.
The child's best interests
The judge may hear the children and change anything that does not seem to be in their best interests. In some regions (eastern Vaud, Valais), mediation programmes such as ‘Consensus parental’ support parents, sometimes free of charge for the first few hours.
Our package
CHF 990: the complete amicable divorce file, plus the section on the children and their documents. We set out your agreement; if you are unsure about custody or amounts, our partner lawyer or a mediator can help. Optional review by our partner lawyer: CHF 250.
Sources: vd.ch, Consensus parental, vs.ch.
FAQ
Do the children have to go to court?
The judge may hear the child, usually from around the age of 6, in a way suited to their age.
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