Glossary · Swiss and international law

Marital protection measures (CC arts. 172 ss)

Urgent decisions issued by the civil court to organise the spouses' separated life without dissolving the marriage.

Reference : CC art. 172-179

Marital protection measures (MPUC) allow rapid relief through summary procedure (art. 271 CPC) :

  • authorisation to live separately;
  • allocation of the family home to one spouse (art. 176 al. 1 ch. 2 CC);
  • custody of the children, visitation right and child maintenance;
  • spousal maintenance if applicable (art. 176 al. 1 ch. 1 CC).

They are distinct from divorce : they regulate the crisis, not the dissolution. Convertible into divorce after two years of separation (art. 114 CC).

See our procedure : Marital protection measures.

See also