Legal Definitions - desert

Desert refers to the act of intentionally abandoning a person, a duty, or a responsibility, often without any intention of returning or fulfilling obligations.

In legal contexts, the term "desert" can encompass more than just physical departure; it can also refer to a deliberate failure to provide necessary support or care.

• Example 1: Marital Desertion (Failure to Provide)

  Imagine a situation where one spouse, Mr. Henderson, moves out of the family home and, despite having the financial means, deliberately stops contributing to any household expenses, child support, or the general welfare of his family. He makes no effort to provide for their food, housing, or other basic necessities, effectively leaving his family without financial support.

  This illustrates desertion not merely as physically leaving, but as a willful and intentional failure to provide essential support to dependents, which can have significant legal consequences in family law.

• Example 2: Child Abandonment (Intent Not to Return)

  Consider a scenario where a parent leaves their infant child unattended in a public place, such as a shopping mall, and then drives away, making no arrangements for the child's care and demonstrating no intention of returning for the child. The child is left vulnerable and without supervision.

  This exemplifies desertion in the context of child endangerment laws, where the key element is the parent's intentional abandonment of the child with no plan or intent to resume care.

• Example 3: Military Desertion (Abandonment of Duty)

  A soldier, Private Miller, is assigned to a specific unit and ordered to deploy. Instead of reporting for duty, Private Miller intentionally leaves their military base without authorization and goes into hiding, with no intention of returning to their unit or fulfilling their military obligations.

  This demonstrates desertion as the intentional abandonment of one's military post or duty, which is a serious offense under military law.