French Civil Code

Failing an amicable agreement, the joint ownership of any agricultural, commercial, industrial, craft or liberal enterprise, which was operated by the deceased or his spouse, may be maintained under the conditions set by the court at the request of the persons mentioned in Article 822. Where applicable, the application to maintain indivision may relate to corporate rights. The court decides on the basis of the interests involved and the means…

Indivision may also be maintained, at the request of the same persons and under the conditions laid down by the court, in respect of ownership of the residential premises or premises used for professional purposes which, at the time of death, were actually being used for that residence or for that purpose by the deceased or his spouse. The same applies to movable objects furnishing the dwelling or used for…

If the deceased leaves one or more minor descendants, maintenance of joint ownership may be requested either by the surviving spouse, by any heir, or by the legal representative of the minors. If there are no minor descendants, continuation of the joint ownership may only be requested by the surviving spouse and on condition that he or she was, prior to the death, or became as a result of the…

Maintenance in undivided ownership may not be prescribed for a period of more than five years. It may be renewed, in the case provided for in the first paragraph of Article 822, until the youngest of the descendants reaches the age of majority and, in the case provided for in the second paragraph of the same article, until the death of the surviving spouse.

If undivided co-owners intend to remain in undivided ownership, the court may, at the request of one or more of them, depending on the interests involved and without prejudice to the application of the articles 831 to 832-3, allocate his share to the person who requested partition. If there is not a sufficient sum in the undivided property, the remainder is paid by those undivided co-owners who have contributed to…