My wife has passed away, and she had a child from a previous relationship. Can I inherit the usufruct of her entire estate?

No. If there is no spousal gift (also known as a “gift to the last living”), the law provides that the surviving spouse may only claim one-quarter of the estate in full ownership when the deceased leaves children from another union (Art. 757 Civil Code).

Good to know: a spousal gift, drawn up before a notary, can increase the surviving spouse’s inheritance rights (Arts. 1091 and 1094-1 Civil Code).