Notary Services Switzerland

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Cantonal Coverage for Corporate Notarisation

Multinationals, family offices and PE houses using Switzerland for holding structures, IP companies or operational headquarters need notarial certification for GmbH and AG incorporations, capital changes, articles amendments, mergers and most asset transfers. WVT operates across the cantons most relevant to international corporate work — Zurich, Geneva, Zug and Basel. A Bernese notary may notarise the formation of a company seated in Zurich, but real estate transfers require notarisation in the canton where the property is located. Our team selects the appropriate cantonal route at the engagement scoping stage.

Our expertise

Swiss notarial work for international corporate clients spans GmbH and AG incorporations, capital increases and reductions, articles amendments, mergers and demergers, share pledges and asset transfers tied to corporate restructurings. WVT coordinates Swiss notarial certification with our Swiss tax and legal counsel, in English, for multinationals and PE houses operating Swiss subsidiaries or holdings.

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Closing Mechanics for Swiss Notarial Acts

PE houses acquiring a Swiss target typically need notarial certification of the share transfer for an AG, a capital increase to fund the acquisition vehicle, and articles amendments to reflect the new governance terms. Each step has cantonal-specific format requirements. WVT's notarial team prepares the certification documents in coordination with the SPA, the financing documents and the post-closing governance package. The certification is executed in the cantonal language with English working translations delivered to the international parties at each step.

FAQ's

Which corporate acts require a Swiss notary?

Swiss law requires notarial certification for GmbH and AG incorporations, capital increases and reductions, most articles amendments, mergers, demergers and conversions. Real estate transfers and certain share pledges also require notarisation. The exact scope varies slightly between cantons given Switzerland’s federal structure, but the core corporate acts are uniform.

How do the three Swiss notarial systems differ in practice?

Self-employed cantonal notaries (Geneva, Bern, Vaud, Basel-Stadt and others) operate as independent professionals. State-employed notaries (Zurich, Schaffhausen) work within the cantonal administration. Hybrid cantons (Basel-Land, Zug, St. Gallen and others) combine both. Procedurally the differences matter less than the territorial competence rules — a deed must be executed in a canton where the notary holds authority.

Can a Bernese notary execute a deed for a Zurich-based company?

Swiss law permits a notary in one canton to notarise the formation of a company seated in another canton. A Bernese notary may execute the deed of incorporation for a company seated in Zurich, and the deed will be recognised throughout Switzerland. The exception is real estate transfers, which require notarisation within the canton where the property is located.

In which language are Swiss notarial deeds executed?

Swiss notarial deeds are executed in the official language of the canton — German, French or Italian depending on location. English working drafts and translations are standard practice for international corporate work. WVT delivers English-language working versions throughout, with the cantonal-language deed prepared for execution and filing.

Does WVT coordinate Swiss notarisation with Dutch or Luxembourg deeds?

International corporate transactions involving Swiss entities frequently coincide with Dutch or Luxembourg notarial work — a Swiss subsidiary under a Luxembourg SOPARFI, a Dutch holding above a Swiss operating company. WVT runs the Swiss notarial workstream within the same engagement as the Dutch and Luxembourg deeds, with timing aligned to the broader closing schedule.