Immigration to Switzerland from abroad, especially from our neighbouring countries; Germany, Italy and France, remains high. It is unlikely that this trend will abate in the near future, not least because of the high demand of skilled workers. As a result, the need for advice on matrimonial and inheritance matters having an international dimension - whether due to bi-national marriages, the death of a foreigner living in Switzerland or having assets abroad - is constantly increasing.

Experience has shown that inheritance is a particularly emotional matter. If one wants to avoid unnecessary disputes and not create additional ambiguities, it is recommended not to use standard, formulaic forfeiture clauses, but to examine in each individual case whether such a clause makes sense and, if necessary, to tailor it to the case.

Digital technology has long been a topic of discussion for most people. Accordingly, deceased persons are increasingly leaving an estate in digital form. For surviving relatives, it is almost impossible to track down the data of a deceased person on the internet and gain access to his or her digital estate. For this reason, everyone should take precautions regarding their digital estate during their lifetime. This article provides an overview of the necessary and sensible measures.