Judicial Assistance

Swiss Central Authorities Under the Hague Conventions on Service and Evidence Abroad

In accordance with Article 21, first paragraph (a) of the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extraludicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, and in accordance with Article 35, first paragraph of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, Switzerland designates the cantonal authorities listed below as Central Authorities as referred to in the respective conventions. Requests for the service of documents, the taking of evidence or the execution of any other judicial act may also be addressed to:

The Federal Justice and Police Department
Federal Office of Justice
International Legal Assistance
Bundesrain 20
3003 Bern
Switzerland
Tel. 011-41-31-322-1120
Fax 011-41-31-322-5380

That office will forward the requests for service to the Central Authority in the appropriate canton. One may also send one's request for service or evidence under the Hague directly to the Central Authority for the appropriate Canton. The list on the following page provides the canton, official language of the canton, address and telephone number.

A list of authorized Swiss central Authorities is available from the Legal Affairs page at the website of the Swiss Embassy in Washington. The list is at the bottom of the page, under "Cantonal Level."

*From the United States dial 011-41 plus the numbers listed above.