Source: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Policy/Country-comparisons/2010-Legal-capacity-and-proxy-decision-making/Switzerland
Timestamp: 2020-07-08 08:35:12
Document Index: 336615327

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 400', 'art. 380', 'art. 396', 'art. 433', 'art. 439', 'art. 433']

Switzerland - 2010: Legal capacity and proxy decision making - Country comparisons - Policy - Alzheimer Europe
The tutelary authority (autorité tutélaire) is the official body responsible for guardianship measures and is designated by each canton. It can be a judiciary authority, an administrative authority or a combination of the two.
When a tutor takes up his/her functions, s/he and a representative of the guardianship court make an inventory of the ward’s possessions. If sufficiently capable, the ward can also take part in the inventory.
The guardianship authorities may decide that it is in the interests of the ward to sell certain personal belongings (but not property, houses or land etc.), but items that are of sentimental value to the person’s family are not usually sold (art. 400).
Who can be a guardian (i.e. a tutor or curator)
Usually, provided there is no conflict of interest, a close relative such as the spouse is chosen, taking into account personal relationships and geographical proximity. The wishes of the person for whom the measure is intended are usually given preference. If designated, a spouse is obliged to be the tutor but may be excused in certain circumstances e.g. if over the age of 60 (art. 380-383). This is something that will change if the new law is passed in that there would no longer be any obligation on spouses to become the tutor.
The curator is also appointed by the tutelage authorities of the place of residence of the person for whom the measure is intended. For curators who are responsible for the management of assets, they are selected by the tutelage authorities in the place where the largest part of the future ward’s assets were located or managed (art. 396).
The duties of the legal counsel are limited to the protection of a person’s material interests. In practice, the provision of personal assistance tends to be accepted (Perrinjaquet, 2007).
Tutorship and curatorship end when the conditions which led to their being set up no longer exist (art. 433 and art. 439). In such cases, the declaration of legal incapacity must be cancelled. The cancellation of the declaration of legal capacity can be requested by the person him/herself or by any other person with an interest in the matter (art. 433).
Article 12 of the Civil Code states that any person in possession of their civil rights is capable of acquiring and making binding agreements (acquérir et s’obliger). According to article 13, adults who are capable of discernment can exercise their civil rights.
Adults who have not been deprived of the capacity to act with reason as a result of mental illness or other causes are considered under article 16 of the Civil Code as being capable of discernment in the sense of the civil law.