Switzerland

Enforcing Contracts in

Switzerland

Listed below is a detailed summary of the efficiency of contract enforcement. It follows the evolution of a sale of goods dispute, tracking the time, cost and number of procedures involved from the moment the plaintiff files the lawsuit until actual payment.

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Court Name (English): Zurich Commercial Court
  • City: Zurich

About This Topic

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Indicator
Time (days) 390
Filing and service 10
Trial and judgment 320
Enforcement of judgment 60
Cost (% of claim) 24
Attorney cost (% of claim) 14.1
Court cost (% of claim) 9.1
Enforcement Cost (% of claim) 0.8
Procedures (number) 32
Filing and service
1      Plaintiff requests payment: Plaintiff or his lawyer asks Defendant orally or in writing to comply with the contract.
2      Mandatory conciliation or mediation: Plaintiff invites Defendant to settle the dispute. Because conciliation or mediation fails, Plaintiff is required to submit a written document to the judge proving that conciliation or mediation- prior to initiating the lawsuit- has failed.
3      Plaintiff’s hiring of lawyer: Plaintiff hires a lawyer to represent him before the court.
*      Plaintiff’s filing of summons and complaint: Plaintiff files his summons and complaint with the court, orally or in writing.
4      Registration of court case: The court administration registers the lawsuit or court case. This includes assigning a reference number to the lawsuit or court case.
*      Assignment of court case to a judge: The court case is assigned to a specific judge through a random procedure, automated system, ruling of an administrative judge, court officer, etc.
5      Court scrutiny of summons and complaint: A judge examines Plaintiff's summons and complaint for formal requirements.
*      Mailing of summons and complaint: Court or process server, including (private) bailiff, mails summons and complaint to Defendant.
Trial and judgment
*      Defendant’s filing of preliminary exemptions: Defendant presents preliminary exemptions to the court. Preliminary exemptions differ from answers on the merits of the claim. Examples of preliminary exemptions are statute of limitations, jurisdictions, etc.
*      Plaintiff’s answer to preliminary exemptions: Plaintiff responds to the preliminary exemptions raised by Defendant.
6      Defendant’s filing of defense or answer to Plaintiff’s claim: Defendant files a written pleading which includes his defense or answer on the merits of the case. Defendant's written answer may or may not include witness statements, expert statements, the documents Defendant relies on as evidence and the legal authori
7      Deadline for Plaintiff to answer Defendant's defense or answer: Judge sets the deadline by which Plaintiff will be allowed to answer Defendant's defense or answer.
8      Plaintiff’s written response to Defendant's defense or answer: Plaintiff responds to Defendant’s defense or answer with a written pleading. Plaintiff's answer may or may not include a witness statements or expert (witness) statements.
9      Filing of pleadings: Plaintiff and Defendant file written pleadings and submissions with the court and transmit copies of the written pleadings or submissions to one another. The pleadings may or may not include witness statements or expert (witness) statements.
10      Framing of issues: Plaintiff and Defendant assist the court in framing issues on which evidence is to be presented.
*      Court appointment of independent expert: Judge appoints, either at the parties' request or at his own initiative, an independent expert to decide whether the quality of the goods Plaintiff delivered to Defendant is adequate. (see assumption 6-b of this case)
11      Notification of court-appointment of independent expert: The court notifies both parties that the court is appointing an independent expert. (see assumption 6-b of this case)
*      Delivery of expert report by court-appointed expert: The independent expert appointed by the court delivers his or her expert report to the court. (see assumption 6-b of this case)
*      Setting of date for mediation hearing: The judge sets a date for a mediation hearing, sometimes also called a 'pre-trial conference,' and notifies the parties of the hearing date.
*      Setting of date(s) for oral hearing or trial: The judge sets the date(s) for the oral hearing or trial.
*      List of (expert) witnesses: The parties file a list of (expert) witnesses with the court. (see assumption 6-a)
12      Summoning of (expert) witnesses: The court summons (expert) witnesses to appear in court for the oral hearing or trial. (see assumption 6-a)
13      Oral hearing (prevalent in civil law): The parties argue the merits of the case at an oral hearing before the judge. Witnesses and a court-appointed independent expert may be heard and questioned at the oral hearing.
14      Closing of the evidence period: The court makes the formal decision to close the evidence period.
15      Order for submission of final arguments: The judge sets the deadline for the submission of final factual and legal arguments.
*      Final arguments: The parties present their final factual and legal arguments to the court either by oral presentation or by a written submission.
16      Writing of judgment: The judge produces a written copy of the judgment.
17      Registration of judgment: The court office registers the judgment after receiving a written copy of the judgment.
18      Plaintiff's receipt of a copy of written judgment: Plaintiff receives a copy of the written judgment.
19      Notification of Defendant of judgment: Plaintiff or court formally notifies the Defendant of the judgment. The appeal period starts to run the day the Defendant is formally notified of the judgment.
20      Appeal period: By law, Defendant has the opportunity to appeal the judgment during a period specified in the law. Defendant decides not to appeal. Judgment becomes final the day the appeal period ends.
21      Reimbursement by Defendant of Plaintiff's court fees: The judgment obliges Defendant to reimburse Plaintiff for the court fees Plaintiff has advanced, because Defendant has lost the case.
Enforcement of judgment
*      Plaintiff’s hiring of lawyer: Plaintiff hires a lawyer to enforce the judgment or continues to be represented by a lawyer during the enforcement of judgment phase.
*      Plaintiff’s request for enforcement order: Plaintiff applies to the court to obtain the enforcement order ('seal' on judgment).
22      Plaintiff’s advancement of enforcement fees: Plaintiff pays the fees related to the enforcement of the judgment.
23      Attachment of enforcement order to judgment: The judge attaches the enforcement order (‘seal’) to the judgment.
24      Request to Defendant to comply voluntarily with judgment: Plaintiff, a court enforcement officer or a (private) bailiff requests Defendant to voluntarily comply with the judgment, giving Defendant a last chance to comply voluntarily with the judgment.
25      Identification of Defendant's assets for attachment by court official or Defendant: Judge, a court enforcement officer, a (private) bailiff or the Defendant himself identifies Defendant's movable assets for attachment.
26      Notification of intent to attach: A court enforcement officer or (private) bailiff notifies other creditors of the intent to attach Defendant's goods.
27      Attachment: Defendant’s movable goods are attached (physically or by registering, marking or separating assets).
28      Valuation or appraisal of attached movable goods: The court or court appointed valuation expert evaluates the attached goods.
29      Enforcement disputes before court: The enforcement of the judgment is delayed because Defendant opposes aspects of the enforcement process before the judge.
30      Call for public auction: The judge calls a public auction by, for example, advertising or publication in the newspapers.
31      Sale through public auction: The Defendant’s movable property is sold at public auction.
32      Distribution of proceeds: The proceeds of the public auction are distributed to various creditors (including Plaintiff), according to the rules of priority.
33      Reimbursement of Plaintiff’s enforcement fees: Defendant reimburses Plaintiff's enforcement fees which Plaintiff had advanced previously.

Nature of Procedures 33
Specialized commercial courts -1
Total Number of Procedures 32
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