ABANDONMENT

In law, means to forsake completely and Voluntarily with no intention of ever reclaiming what one renounces and without transferring it to another. Property so relinquished may be appropriated by the person who first takes possession of it. For example, one who abandons his newspaper in a park, gives up his rights to it but not necessarily his duties. He may be guilty of littering. As applied to the relationship between husband and wife, or between parent and children, abandonment is desertion. This is wrongful and generally punishable as a criminal offense. In Anglo American law an easement, but not a perfected land tittle, may be abandoned.