# I am experiencing violence in my relationship or family

What you can do immediately if you or your children are threatened or hurt by a partner or another person in the household: police and court protective measures, the criminal proceedings, victim support, and the consequences for a residence permit that depends on the relationship.

This guide covers: Violence, threats or stalking by a spouse, a registered partner, a partner in a shared household, a former partner, or another family member. Police removal, civil-law protection, the criminal proceedings, victim support, protective measures for the marital union, and the consequences for a residence permit that depends on the relationship.

Not covered: This overview does not replace personal advice or emergency care. It does not cover the arrangements for children in an ordinary separation without violence (see the guide on separation), neighbour disputes, or the special rules of asylum law.

## Your answers

- What is your relationship with the person using violence? (Married / Registered partnership / We live together without being married / Former partner / Another family member / I don't know)
- Do children live in the shared household? (Yes / No / I don't know)
- Does your residence permit in Switzerland depend on this person? (Yes / No, this does not apply to me / I don't know)
- Has the police already been involved? (Yes / No / I don't know)

## What to do

**1.** If you or your children are in danger right now, call the police immediately on 117 or the emergency number 112. The police also come at night and at weekends.

For advice, even without acute danger, you can reach victim support across Switzerland around the clock on 142. The call is free and confidential, and anonymous if you wish. 142 is not an emergency number: in acute danger, always call 117 or 112 first.

You do not need to already know what you want to do next to call. The advice centre will help you further, whatever your relationship with the person using violence.

**2.** If the police have already attended, or you have reported the matter, note down the incident or report number and the name of the responsible unit as soon as possible. Ask whether an expulsion order or a no-contact and no-approach order was issued, and until when it applies.

You will need these details later: for your own application to the court, for victim support, and, if your residence permit depends on the relationship, as evidence for the immigration authority. Keep copies of reports, medical reports and other documents carefully, if possible somewhere the person using violence cannot access.

*Applies if: Has the police already been involved? → Yes*

## The law

If you live in the same home as the person using violence, a cantonal body responsible for this can immediately expel that person from the shared home in a crisis. This is usually the police. How long the expulsion lasts is set by each canton itself.

Call the police for this (117 or your local police station) and ask for a report or an incident number. This document will help you later with an application to the court or with victim support.

If you want the protection to continue beyond the expulsion period, file your own application with the court before it expires (see below).

Sources: [ZGB · Art. 28b](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_28b)

Regardless of whether you have reported the matter, you can apply to the civil court for your own protective measures. The court can, in particular, forbid the person from approaching you, from being in certain places, or from making contact with you in any form. If you live together, the court can also bar the person from the home for a set period; for good cause, this period can be extended once.

On your application, the court can also secure such a ban with electronic monitoring: the person then wears a device that is permanently attached and continuously records their location. Monitoring is ordered for at most six months and can be extended by six months at a time. You bear no costs for this.

Ask in your application for the court to combine the ban with a threat of punishment. Anyone who disregards a ban combined in this way can be punished with a fine.

Sources: [ZGB · Art. 28b](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_28b), [ZGB · Art. 28c](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_28c), [StGB · Art. 292](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_292)

For your own application because of violence, threats or stalking, you do not first have to go to a conciliation hearing: you sue directly at the court. The court does not charge court costs for this; the costs of a lawyer are not covered by this. If you instead pursue protection as part of proceedings on protective measures for the marital union, different cost rules apply (see below).

In cases of particular urgency, for example if an immediate order would otherwise come too late, the court can order a measure even without hearing the other side beforehand. That person is then heard promptly afterwards and can respond.

Sources: [ZPO · Art. 198](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_198), [ZPO · Art. 114](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_114), [ZPO · Art. 265](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_265)

If you are married, you can also ask the court for protective measures for the marital union to make further arrangements, for example who stays in the shared home or how maintenance is arranged. The same protective options as for violence, threats or stalking are also available in these proceedings.

In urgent cases, the court for protective measures for the marital union can likewise decide immediately and without hearing the other side beforehand. Unlike a stand-alone claim for violence, proceedings on protective measures for the marital union are not automatically free of charge; if you cannot afford this, you can apply for legal aid.

*Applies if: What is your relationship with the person using violence? → Married*

Sources: [ZGB · Art. 172](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_172), [ZGB · Art. 176](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_176), [ZPO · Art. 265](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_265), [ZPO · Art. 117](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_117)

For common assault, repeated acts of aggression, or serious threats, the state prosecutes the offence on its own initiative if the perpetrator is your spouse, your registered partner, or has lived or has been living with you in a shared household without being married for an indefinite period. This also applies for up to a year after divorce, dissolution of the partnership, or separation.

This means: you do not have to file a criminal complaint yourself, and you cannot simply end proceedings once opened by withdrawing it. The public prosecutor decides on charges or discontinuation.

*Applies if: What is your relationship with the person using violence? → Married / Registered partnership / We live together without being married / Former partner / I don't know*

Sources: [StGB · Art. 123](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_123), [StGB · Art. 126](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_126), [StGB · Art. 180](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_180)

Anyone who uses force or the threat of serious harm to compel you to do something, refrain from doing something, or tolerate something, commits the offence of coercion. Unlike a threat or common assault, coercion is always prosecuted by the state itself, regardless of your relationship with the perpetrator; no criminal complaint is needed.

Sources: [StGB · Art. 181](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_181)

For common assault, repeated acts of aggression, threats or coercion within a couple relationship, you as the victim can ask the public prosecutor or the court to suspend the criminal proceedings for at most six months, if this can stabilise or improve your situation. The accused can be required to attend a course on violence prevention during this time.

Important: this does not happen automatically and is not a withdrawal of your report. If you later ask for the proceedings to continue after all, or if your situation does not improve, the proceedings resume. If your situation has stabilised or improved by the end of the six months, the proceedings are abandoned. Suspension is excluded if the accused has already been convicted of an earlier offence of violence, against personal liberty or a sexual offence against a partner.

*Applies if: What is your relationship with the person using violence? → Married / Registered partnership / We live together without being married / Former partner / I don't know*

Sources: [StGB · Art. 55a](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_55a)

The court informs the competent child and adult protection authority (KESB) of its decision on protective measures against violence, to the extent it needs this for its own tasks, for example if children live in the household. If a child's welfare is at risk, the KESB takes the necessary measures to protect them.

Questions of parental responsibility or contact are often complex. Get personal advice on this, for example from the victim support centre or a family law specialist.

*Applies if: Do children live in the shared household? → Yes*

Sources: [ZGB · Art. 28b](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_28b), [ZGB · Art. 307](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_307)

If your residence permit depends on the marriage or the family unit, you do not automatically lose it when the relationship ends. After at least three years of marital union and with sufficient integration, you are in any case entitled to an extension.

Even before that, you may be entitled if important personal reasons make it necessary for you to stay longer. Domestic violence against you or a child expressly counts as such a reason. The authority considers in particular: recognition as a victim by victim support, confirmation from a specialised agency, police or court protective measures, medical reports, police reports or criminal complaints, and criminal convictions. This applies correspondingly for cohabiting couples with a hardship permit.

Be sure to get personal advice on this, if possible before you act.

*Applies if: Does your residence permit in Switzerland depend on this person? → Yes*

Sources: [AIG · Art. 50](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2007/758/de#art_50)

As the victim of an offence against your physical, psychological or sexual integrity, you are entitled to victim support. This applies regardless of whether the perpetrator has been identified or convicted. Close relations such as a spouse, children or parents can also claim victim support.

The advice centres support you free of charge and are bound to confidentiality. They help you exercise your rights. Support includes medical, psychological, social, material and legal assistance, depending on your needs. If necessary, the advice centres also arrange emergency accommodation.

Sources: [OHG · Art. 1](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_1), [OHG · Art. 12](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_12), [OHG · Art. 14](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_14), [OHG · Art. 5](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_5), [OHG · Art. 11](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_11)

## Advice

This overview does not replace personal advice. Especially where children are affected, criminal proceedings are under way, or your residence status depends on the relationship, it is worth involving a specialist early: the cantonal victim support centre, a lawyer for family and criminal law, or your canton's free legal information service.

## Help

Free and confidential contact points: you can find your cantonal victim support centre using the search on opferhilfe-schweiz.ch. Women's shelters throughout Switzerland offer women and their children safe, usually undisclosed accommodation at short notice; an overview is available at frauenhaeuser.ch. Some cantons also have shelters for men; ask the victim support centre about this.

For legal questions, many cantons and bar associations offer free or low-cost initial consultations.

## Sources

- [ZGB · Art. 28b](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_28b)
- [ZGB · Art. 28c](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_28c)
- [ZGB · Art. 172](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_172)
- [StGB · Art. 55a](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_55a)
- [StGB · Art. 123](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_123)
- [StGB · Art. 126](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_126)
- [StGB · Art. 180](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_180)
- [StGB · Art. 181](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_181)
- [ZPO · Art. 198](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_198)
- [ZPO · Art. 114](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_114)
- [ZPO · Art. 265](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_265)
- [AIG · Art. 50](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2007/758/de#art_50)
- [OHG · Art. 1](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_1)
- [OHG · Art. 12](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_12)
- [OHG · Art. 14](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_14)
- [StGB · Art. 292](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_292)
- [ZGB · Art. 176](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_176)
- [ZGB · Art. 307](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/24/233_245_233/de#art_307)
- [ZPO · Art. 117](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/262/de#art_117)
- [OHG · Art. 5](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_5)
- [OHG · Art. 11](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_11)

## Official information

- [Victim Support Switzerland – advice centres and the 142 number](https://www.opferhilfe-schweiz.ch/)
- [Women's shelters Switzerland and Liechtenstein – addresses](https://www.frauenhaeuser.ch/)

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Statute texts checked on 29 September 2026. General legal information. It does not replace individual advice.

https://swisslaw.io/en/protection/domestic-violence/ · swisslaw.io, protection.domestic-violence, 2026-09-29 · CC BY 4.0