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Desertion is willful abandonment of a person's duties or obligations , especially to a spouse or child. Some common uses of the term desertion in a legal sense include:
- Desertion is a ground for divorce in states with fault divorce . In the context of divorce, cases such as this one from Virginia explain that “Desertion occurs when one spouse breaks off marital cohabitation with the intent to remain apart permanently, without the consent and against the will of the other spouse.”
- As explained in this case from Georgia , the term “desertion” as an element in the offense of abandonment of a child, means “the willful forsaking and desertion of the duties of parenthood.”
- Desertion can also be the basis for a court to grant an adoption where a parent has deserted a child for a specified period of time. Cases such as this one from Oregon , explain that the term desertion as used in the context of the statute permitting adoption, means parental conduct which indicates an intention to desert all parental duties and parental rights in the child.
[Last updated in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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Learn what abandonment or desertion means in a marriage, how it can affect a divorce, and when it can lead to criminal charges. By E.A. Gjelten, Legal Editor. Divorce is stressful and difficult for most people, but it's especially devastating if you feel like you've been abandoned without discussion or at least warning.
When a married individual wilfully abandons their obligations or duties, especially to their significant other (the partner married to them) or their child, it is called desertion in marriage.
Divorce changes the economic, social, physical and psychological aspects of the individual’s life (Krumrei, et al 2007). Adjusting to the divorce can lead to severe physical, psychological and economical problems (Krumrei, et al 2007). Even when the divorce is eagerly sought and welcomed, the individual still has many adjustments to face.
With divorce, adults potentially stand to lose an important source of social support (McPherson, Smith-Lovin, & Brashears, 2006), experience poorer physical and mental health (Sbarra, 2015), and face decreased financial stability (Finnie, 1993).
Desertion is willful abandonment of a person's duties or obligations, especially to a spouse or child. Some common uses of the term desertion in a legal sense include: Desertion is a ground for divorce in states with fault divorce.
2. Divorce: Trends, Patterns, Causes, Consequence s. Juho Härkönen. Stockholm University, Department of Sociology. Abstract: This contribution provides an overview to what is known about...
Divorce is a major life stressor for the individuals involved, with potentially strong negative consequences for the mental and physical health of all members of the family.
In light of these challenges, here are three uncomplicated yet sometimes difficult-to-follow guidelines that have helped me get a dissertation while avoiding a divorce (or permanently damaging any other important relationships).
This thesis seeks to explore divorce law, questioning the role of fault and what the aims of a modern divorce law could encapsulate, applying this analysis to current reforms and reform proposals.
divorce may partially determine the impact of a divorce on one’s psychological well-being. It also could be the case that the availability of social support accounts for the influence of the social context.