From a German perspective, the Applicability of the law under the European Succession Regulation (EuErbVO). As we have already devoted a separate article to this issue, we will not go into it in detail here. If the deceased had their habitual residence in Switzerland at the time of their death, Swiss inheritance law applies. The testator can only prevent this by making a choice of law.
From a Swiss perspective, the estate of persons with their last domicile in Switzerland is subject to Swiss inheritance law, Article 86 of the Swiss Succession Act. Cases in which the deceased's habitual residence and last domicile are different are problematic. The terms have different meanings. The last habitual residence has already been defined in our Article on the applicable law under the EU Succession Regulation described in detail. The Swiss understanding of the last place of residence differs from this. It is the place where the testator stayed with the intention of remaining permanently. This understanding is narrower than that of habitual residence. Examples of a potential discrepancy between domicile and habitual residence are cross-border commuters, long-term travellers, students abroad and residents of a nursing home.