Article 831 of the French Civil Code
The surviving spouse or any heir who is a co-owner may apply for preferential allotment by way of partition, subject to a balancing payment if applicable, of any business, or part of a business, whether agricultural, commercial, industrial, craft or liberal, or undivided share of such a business, even if formed for a share of property of which he was already the owner or co-owner before the death, in the…