Switzerland to make it easier to adopt children
Express newspaper
14/09/2025 17:57
Parliament will now consider the draft law.
The Swiss government wants to make adoption easier for stepparents.
According to a draft law approved by the Federal Council, couples who have raised a child together since birth will no longer need to undergo a one-year guardianship period before adoption, albinfo.ch reports.
The reform, which amends the Civil Code, follows on from the introduction of “marriage for all” and aims to put same-sex couples on the same level as heterosexual ones. It also reflects changing family structures, the government said.
The new rules will apply where the child’s biological parent was already living with the adoptive partner at the time of the birth. A separate requirement – that couples live together for at least three years before an adoption by an adopted child – remains in place.
Plans to speed up adoptions on a larger scale have been scrapped. An earlier idea to complete the procedures within six months was rejected after consultation. Critics argued that easing the procedures too much could undermine a child’s right to know their biological parentage. The government says this right will be addressed in a future review of parentage law.
Parliament will now consider the draft law.