A

An unjustified separation of one spouse from the other with the deliberate intention of the offender to terminate the matrimonial relation. The refusal by the offending spouse to recognize and contribute to the marital relation for a period of one year, even if they are still sleeping under the same roof. Merely moving out of a marital home does not per se constitute a fault ground of abandonment. There is no time period to define abandonment, but the finding of abandonment is almost always based on evidence of an intention not to return. In fault divorce states, a party guilty of abandonment may be ...