[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/divorce\/desertion\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/divorce\/desertion\/","headline":"Desertion","name":"Desertion","description":"Desertion in marriage usually means one spouse leaves the home and the relationship without the other spouse’s agreement and without a clear plan to return. In Michigan, people often use the words \u201cdesertion\u201d and \u201cabandonment\u201d in marriage to describe the same kind of situation, but the details matter. A short break to cool off, a […]","datePublished":"2026-02-04","dateModified":"2026-06-09","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/cw-mmolina\/#Person","name":"Maria Molina","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/cw-mmolina\/","identifier":13,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1061958c32fe74f651dbd76ca30415b92bdd805b069e73bbe65571cf1b237e1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1061958c32fe74f651dbd76ca30415b92bdd805b069e73bbe65571cf1b237e1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kraayeveld Family Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/desertion-in-marriage-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/desertion-in-marriage-1.png","height":360,"width":930},"url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/divorce\/desertion\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk","name":"Abandoned by Your Spouse? What You Must Know About Divorce and Desertion","description":"Abandoned by Your Spouse? What You Must Know About Divorce and Desertion\n\nAbandoned by your spouse? In Michigan, desertion (or abandonment) doesn\u2019t stop a divorce\u2014because we\u2019re a no-fault state\u2014but it can still impact your case. \ud83c\udfe0\ud83d\udc94\n\nIn this video, we break down what desertion really means, how it affects property division, custody, and spousal support, and why documenting abandonment matters. You\u2019ll also learn the difference between desertion, separation, and legal separation, and what defenses exist against desertion claims.\n\n\ud83d\udc49 If your spouse has walked out, don\u2019t assume you\u2019ve lost your rights\u2014or that they\u2019ve lost theirs. Know the law and protect yourself.\n\n\ud83d\udcde For personalized guidance, visit www.kraayeveld.com\n or call us at (616) 612-1393.","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lU2Z8yh0Kkk\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lU2Z8yh0Kkk\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lU2Z8yh0Kkk\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lU2Z8yh0Kkk\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lU2Z8yh0Kkk\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2025-09-17T13:01:41+00:00","duration":"PT6M20S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lU2Z8yh0Kkk","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCIFBq8W6k05pXgw0k98DZPQ#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCIFBq8W6k05pXgw0k98DZPQ","name":"Kraayeveld Family Law","description":"\nGrand Rapids family law attorneys helping clients with divorce and child custody disputes in West Michigan.\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/0ucpS3xzwE2Lhnwtcd7eoF0oLwq7VmOIYlMbRuDAMZJdnz1G6W69BDWIvkGPEEHYXHzsdvPDLg=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":663}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU2Z8yh0Kkk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":5}]}},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/divorce\/desertion\/#BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Michigan Family Law","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Divorce","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/divorce\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Desertion","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/michigan-family-lawyer\/divorce\/desertion\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]