Principle of trust

In Swiss law, the principle of trust operates in several contexts. In private law, declarations and contracts are often interpreted according to how a reasonable recipient could understand them in good faith. In public law, individuals may sometimes rely on clear official assurances if they acted on them and no overriding public interest requires a different result. The principle promotes legal certainty and fairness, but it does not protect careless reliance or expectations that conflict with mandatory law.