AI can help prepare an estate file. It is used to organize documents, extract an inventory, and flag missing items. It does not draft the official deed.
It does not issue a certificate of inheritance. It does not decide whether to accept or renounce an inheritance. Silex helps query documents, cross-reference them with the law, and structure the file.
In short: what the AI should produce
Effective use goes beyond just "summarizing the will." It aims for a working deliverable: an index of documents received, missing, or illegible; an inventory of assets and liabilities with source documents; a summary of provisions, bequests, charges, executor details, and ambiguous points; deadlines to monitor; and questions to ask before the appointment with the notary.
This file is not a certificate of inheritance. It is not a distribution. It is a preparation.
What does "estate settlement" mean in Switzerland?
The common term encompasses several documents. Depending on the canton, this usually refers to the certificate of inheritance, which serves as proof of heir status to third parties; the inventory of assets and liabilities, sometimes with benefit of inventory; the distribution among heirs; a tax declaration, depending on the canton; and authentic deeds, for example, for real estate.
The competent authority varies by canton. It may be a notary, a justice of the peace, or another authority. Sources: Fedlex and ch.ch – inheritance.
What to ask the tool
Request a structured output, not a long text. Deceased and family: apparent relationships, matrimonial regime, points to confirm. Provisions: will, inheritance agreement, bequests, charges, executor. Assets: accounts, real estate, insurance, occupational pension (LPP), securities, with the corresponding document.
Liabilities: loans, invoices, taxes, doubtful debts. Discrepancies: an account mentioned nowhere else, an amount that does not add up. Missing items: bank statements, title deeds, civil status documents, prior gifts. Every line of the inventory must refer to a source. Without a document, it is merely a hypothesis. See AI legal analysis.
Documents to be indexed
Civil status: death certificate, family record book, identities of heirs. Family: marriage, divorce, partnership, matrimonial regime. Wishes: will, inheritance agreement, prior donations. Banks and securities: statements as of the date of death, contracts.
Real estate: deeds, mortgages, appraisals. Pension planning: occupational pension (LPP), insurance, 3rd pillar. Debts and taxes: loans, invoices, latest tax assessments.
The AI flags what is missing. It does not retrieve official extracts on your behalf.
Deadlines to flag immediately
In Switzerland, two deadlines often apply. They are calculated from the date of death or from the date you become aware of your status as an heir. Verify these with a local professional in the canton.
Benefit of inventory: often one month to request. Repudiation: often three months.
The AI can display these deadlines. It does not decide whether to accept, repudiate, or request an inventory. That requires urgent human advice.
Typical inconsistencies to flag
An heir mentioned in a document but absent from the will, or vice versa. A real estate property without a deed in the file. An account or insurance policy without a statement as of the date of death. Significant withdrawals shortly before death that need explanation. A donation mentioned without supporting documentation. A rule from another canton or country included by mistake.
Every alert must cite the page. The notary or lawyer then makes the final decision.
What the AI cannot replace
It does not issue the certificate of inheritance. It does not conduct official searches for a will. It does not provide advice on acceptance, repudiation, or the benefit of inventory. It does not authenticate a partition or a real estate transfer. It does not handle procedures with banks, insurance companies, or the land registry.
A summary is not a legal act. The tool accelerates preparation. The professional secures the procedure. See AI notary and AI notarial services.
6-step method
First, index: documents received, missing, or illegible. Then, classify: civil status, wishes, banks, real estate, debts, taxes. Next, extract: apparent heirs, legacies, assets, liabilities. Finally, cross-reference: will against documents, statements against declarations.
Then verify: every alert in the source, every deadline with the canton. Finally, send a clear memo to the notary, not a "generated" document.
AI accelerates indexing, filing, extraction, and cross-referencing. Starting August 26, 2026, Silo will allow you to query these documents within Silex and trace them back to the source. A case analysis agent, available soon, will perform an initial pass over the entire corpus. Verification and transmission remain human tasks.
Verify before the notary appointment
Is the file organized by theme, with missing items identified? Does every inventory line have a source document? Have the inventory and repudiation deadlines been flagged?
Does the will summary distinguish between what is written and what is hypothetical? Has no personal data been pasted into a public chatbot? Are the documents kept in a tool isolated between organizations? Has the professional reviewed them before sending them to the heirs?
For advance planning: AI for an authentic will.
Confidentiality
An estate involves family, assets, and sometimes conflict. The data is highly sensitive.
Before using a tool: where is the data stored? Who has access to it? Is it used to train a model? Is it isolated between organizations?
A public chatbot is not suitable. See Silex security, AI and data protection and ChatGPT vs Silex.
Source: FDPIC – AI and data protection.
Who is this for?
For notaries: initial review, inventory, summary. See AI for notaries. For lawyers: research and notes. See AI for lawyers.
For legal professionals and fiduciaries: document scoping. See AI for legal professionals and AI for business. For individuals: preparing documents, not drafting the deed. See Legal AI for individuals.
The role of Silex
Silex helps prepare estate files. Search for sources. Analyze documents. Structure an inventory. Then verify. Three new features, all in one environment.
It does not generate official deeds. It does not issue certificates of inheritance.
Silo, coming August 26, 2026
Silo queries your documents from within Silex. Wills, statements, titles, contracts, templates. It also links them to legal sources.
Every answer is sourced. You can trace it back to the original document. Files imported into Silo Storage are hosted in Switzerland by Infomaniak, on a sovereign cloud. They are not used to train models. They are not shared with other organizations.
Case analysis, coming soon
The agent will process a complete file at once. Documents, correspondence, records, PDFs, audio recordings, plus a description of the estate and your instructions.
Target deliverable: summary, key points, missing items, areas of concern, and draft documents. This is a first pass. Not a certificate. Not a decision to accept or renounce.
New plans, starting August 26, 2026
The plans include Silo and the new AI agents. Storage and credits are tailored to each offer. See the pricing.
See the product, the solutions and legal AI. To test it out, book a demo or contact the team. Additional resources: FAQ and Legal monitoring.
FAQ: AI for succession deeds
Can AI draft a succession deed?
No. It prepares the file. The official deed is the responsibility of the notary or the competent authority.
What deliverables should be requested?
An index of documents, a sourced inventory, a summary of provisions, and deadlines to monitor. Not a certificate.
Can AI issue a certificate of inheritance?
No. This document is issued in accordance with cantonal law.
Can AI decide whether to accept or renounce an inheritance?
No. It can remind you of the deadlines. Advice and decision-making remain human responsibilities.
Can an individual settle their estate using a chatbot?
No. A chatbot can help organize documents. It does not produce a valid legal deed. Personal data should not be entered into public-facing tools.
How can I query succession documents in Silex?
With Silo, starting August 26, 2026, you can query your documents and cross-reference them with the law. You can trace information back to the original document. A file analysis agent, available soon, will be able to review an entire corpus at once. Certificates of inheritance and renunciations remain outside the scope of AI.
Does Silex replace the notary?
No. Silex helps with preparation. The procedure and liability remain with the professional.
