The decision on whether to get married is primarily made on an emotional level. However, there are certain financial and legal consequences that Nina, Tom and others in their situation should give thought to.
If married: If Nina and Tom marry, each will receive spousal AHV benefits for the contributions made by the other. The total pension amount married couples may receive is limited to 1.5 times (150 percent of) CHF 2,450, the maximum pension amount which an individual may receive. This means that spouses who have continuously contributed toward a first-pillar pension can receive a maximum of CHF 3,585 per month.
If Tom were to die, as his wife, Nina may be entitled to a lifelong widow's pension. This would apply if Nina were over age 45 and had either been married to Tom for at least five years or had children with him. If the situation were reversed, Tom would receive a widower's pension until the youngest child reaches the age of 18. Their children would receive an orphan's pension, were their parents to die.
Life partnership: Couples in a life partnership enjoy an advantage over married couples when it comes to retirement pensions. If both have continuously contributed, Nina and Tom can receive individual pensions (in each case 100 percent) of a maximum of CHF 2,450 per month, or CHF 4,780 in total: 25 percent more than a married couple. However, they have no entitlement to a survivors' pension if one of them dies. Their children and children from outside the marriage would still receive orphan's pensions.
If married: If either spouse dies, Nina or Tom would receive a survivor's pension from the other's occupational retirement provisions. To qualify for such a pension they must have been married for at least five years, Nina and/or Tom must be over age 45, or they must have parental child support obligations.
Life partnership: The Federal Occupational Pensions Act does not provide for benefits in the case of an unregistered life partner’s death. Some pension funds however, such as the Vita Joint Foundation, offer "partner pensions". It is recommended that couples who live in a marriage-like arrangement or have children together send a written registration notice to their pension fund. The partner pension can then be applied for in case of death.
If married: The bank or insurance company with custody of the vested benefits account of the deceased spouse distributes a lump sum to the surviving spouse. Orphans and ex-spouses may also receive benefits if entitled.
Life partnership: Nina and Tom would be able to name each other as beneficiary, enabling the capital benefit from their vested benefits accounts to be paid out to the survivor in case of death. They should communicate this wish in writing to their vested benefits institution.
If married: Pillar 3a pension assets are first distributed to the surviving spouse in the event of the account holder's death. Nina or Tom, as the case may be, would receive all capital accumulated in a restricted pension plan.
Life partnership: If unmarried, Nina and Tom would not be entitled to withdraw the accumulated capital from a restricted pension plan. Under certain circumstances however, the surviving life partner may have entitlements if, for example, he/she lived with the deceased during the five years prior or has support obligations for one or more children. In such a case, the life partner has the same rank in the order of beneficiaries as the children. Notification of such must however be submitted in writing to the insurance company. It is generally recommended that life partners name one another as a surviving beneficiary of a life insurance policy in an unrestricted pension plan. The order of beneficiaries for life insurance policies can be freely determined.
If married: If Tom and Nina are married, they file jointly; their incomes are added together. The more they earn, the higher the tax rate. Since they both have earnings they pay more federal tax than they would if they were life partners. The Swiss Federal Tax Administration estimates that 700,000 married couples are currently affected by this so-called "marriage penalty" for direct federal tax. Efforts to change this situation have been underway for quite some time.
Unregistered life partnership: Life partners file separate tax returns. They pay income and wealth tax individually. Unmarried couples have an advantage over married couples because the tax rate progression has less of an impact on them, particularly in the case of direct federal tax.
If married: Swiss law regulates who receives what when someone dies. The spouse takes precedence. If Tom and Nina have children, the survivor of the two must share half the estate with the descendants, if any. If the deceased has no surviving children, the surviving spouse receives more — three quarters.
Life partnership: If Tom and Nina are not married, the law does not provide for any inheritance. The statutory laws of descent and distribution apply in case of death, these favor the descendants in terms of precedence. If there are no children and no testamentary contract or will, the deceased's estate goes to the parents. It is thus recommended that life partners name each other as beneficiary to avoid the survivor being left with nothing in case of death.
Nina and Tom conclude that, if one of them were to die, the survivor would be more financially secure if they were married than if they are simply life partners. If they were to remain life partners however, they would be better off with regard to pensions and taxes.
But what are the ramifications regarding children if they are simply life partners? What if one of them works less or stops working altogether to take care of the children?
Nina and Tom's financial adviser suggests a life partnership contract as a solution. This contract regulates what support funding is to be provided from which bank accounts and in what proportions household and housing costs and assets are to be shared. The adviser also recommends making a list of their assets and property items and implementing medical powers of attorney. He gives them the forms for applying to their pension fund for a partner's pension (notification of life partnership and specification of death benefit beneficiary). With a partner's pension, Nina and Tom can name each other as beneficiary in the event that one of them should die. Their pension adviser also recommends implementing a will and living will as well as taking out life insurance. "It's not the most streamlined solution," he agrees, giving an encouraging smile upon seeing the long faces of Nina and Tom.
But for Nina and Tom the emotional aspects are more important than the pragmatic ones, and they want to declare in the most significant possible way their love for each other along with their enduring bond. The day before the wedding ceremony, Nina and Tom go to the civil registry office to be officially married in the presence of their parents and other witnesses.
The weather is absolutely fantastic on the day of the big barbecue by the lake. The reception and party carry on into the small hours of the morning, and apart from the best man falling into the water, the evening turns out to be just as perfect as they envisioned.
