I am in the process of closing my Swiss Restricted Pension Plan (Pillar 3a) account as I am no longer living or working in Switzerland & have returned back to the UK; I was only in Switzerland for 3 months. The paperwork seems to be confusing & just when you think you have completed everything they have now asked me to prove my civil status. This means they want an official letter from a UK authority, no more than 1 month old, proving that I am single. Since I have never been married, nor have I made any reference to my status at any time I find this a little strange.

Anyway, does anyone know where I will be able to get such a civil status confirmation in the UK as I am struggling to find out?

Also, is there anything else that I need to know as I seem to be being drip fed information by UBS.

It's because if you're married, they need the signature of your spouse in order to legally release pension funds. (We're just about to get my husband's released, and will need a notarised letter of agreement from me.)

Not sure how you can prove the absence of something, though. Would they accept something like a letter from a doctor or bank manager with whom you have a long-term relationship, who would be prepared to state that you are single?

I can only think of going before a judge and swearing your are not married.

Otherwise, why not transfer the Pillar IIIa funds into a UK pension fund?

Best I can suggest is to ask the local town hall registrar.Im sure if you ask about what you have to do before you can get married, it must be to prove that you are indeed single, thereby giving you the method of indeed proving that you are.

Strange that, my wife had hers released and UBS needed nothing from me. Although to get the pension paid out I had to get my signature notarised in Switzerland..

This is crazy; I want transfer my money but since I can't prove my status as being single I am stuck. Afraid that no one knows me in the UK, except parents, since it has been 17 years since I lived here. I've had stints in NZ, Australia & Canada but have not, in all my time, come up against such a situation as having to prove that I am single. It's infuriating because in Switzerland I am pretty sure that no one checked up on my status, as far as I am aware, beyond asking me if I was married or single. I mean how can they unless they do record check in all countries in which I have lived!

Needless to say, I have asked UBS what to do because I cannot do what they have asked.

Don't stress. Go to your gemeinde and they can provide a certificate that states you are single, it cost CHF 80 when I did this in 2010 (Kanton ZH).

Suggest the OP changes his location (Wallisellen) - it's causing confusion...

That's the best course of action.

Most likely you'll just have to make an official oath. You can do this in the UK with any solicitor or before a judge.