Reticence

In insurance law, reticence refers to an incorrect or incomplete declaration of material risk facts before the contract is concluded. In Swiss practice the term is used especially where an applicant answers the insurer’s questions falsely, incompletely, or in a misleading way. The key issue is whether the omitted or misstated fact was relevant to the insurer’s risk assessment. If the legal requirements are met, the insurer may have remedies, including termination and refusal or reduction of benefits for related claims. The outcome depends on causation, timing, and contractual terms.