Swiss Legislator Facilitates Cross-Border Civil Proceedings

Key takeaways

• The examination or hearing of an individual in Switzerland via telephone or video conference in foreign civil proceedings is no longer subject to prior approval by the Swiss authorities.
• To protect Swiss sovereignty and the individual concerned, such examinations or hearings continue to be subject to several conditions.
• The participation of an individual in Switzerland in an examination or hearing via telephone or video conference in foreign civil proceedings remains voluntary.

Introduction

Against the background of advancing digitalization and with a view to implement the possibility of conducting video conferences in Swiss civil proceedings, the Swiss legislator sought to simplify the use of telephone or video conferences in cross-border civil proceedings. Currently, the examination or hearing of an individual in Switzerland by telephone or video conference in the context of foreign civil proceedings requires the prior approval of the