Short answer. Yes to both. Article 564 of the Civil Code expressly allows a usufruct to cover only part of the fruits of a thing, and also allows it to be constituted over a right — as long as the right is not strictly personal or intransmissible.
What the law says
Usufruct may be constituted on the whole or a part of the fruits of the thing, in favor of one more persons, simultaneously or successively, and in every case from or to a certain day, purely or conditionally. It may also be constituted on a right, provided it is not strictly personal or intransmissible.
Civil Code, Article 564 — Usufruct May Be Partial or Successive. Read the full provision →
How wide or narrow a usufruct can be
Article 564 of the Civil Code shows how flexible the usufruct structure is. A usufruct may cover the whole or only a part of the fruits of the subject property. So if a property produces income, the usufruct can be limited to half of those fruits, a quarter, or any other proportion — the owner does not have to hand over all the fruits to create a valid usufruct. A usufruct can also be given to one person or to several simultaneously, or to multiple persons in succession. It can take effect immediately, from a future date, until a fixed date, or be made conditional.
Usufruct over a right
The second sentence of Article 564 extends the concept beyond physical property entirely. A usufruct may also be constituted on a right — not on a thing but on a legal entitlement. A lease right, a credit, a claim — these can be the object of a usufruct, meaning the usufructuary enjoys the benefits the right generates for the duration of the usufruct. The one limit is that the right must not be strictly personal or intransmissible. Rights that are tied exclusively to a particular person and cannot be passed on — such as certain personal licenses or rights that cease at the holder's death — cannot be made subject to a usufruct.
Why these options matter in practice
The flexibility Article 564 provides is practically significant in estate planning and family arrangements. A parent who wants to support a surviving spouse from the income of a property without transferring ownership can grant a usufruct over the whole or part of the property's fruits. A creditor who holds a right may find that right can be made the subject of a usufruct without transferring the underlying obligation. Understanding that a usufruct need not cover the entire property or apply to a physical thing opens up structuring options that a narrower conception of usufruct would close off.
Conditions and time limits
Article 564 also confirms that a usufruct can be created purely — unconditionally — or conditionally. A conditional usufruct takes effect or is extinguished depending on whether the stated condition occurs. It can also be time-bounded: starting from a certain day or running only until a certain day. These tools allow parties to tailor a usufruct closely to what they actually want — a finite term, a life-estate, a deferred benefit, or a benefit that activates only if circumstances change. Each variation has different implications for both the usufructuary and the owner of the underlying property, so precise drafting matters.