Legal Definitions - absence

Definition: Absence refers to the state of being away from one's usual place of residence or a failure to appear when expected. In Louisiana law, it also refers to the state of being an absent person, also known as absentia.

• When John went on vacation to Hawaii, he was in a state of absence from his home in California.
• The teacher marked Sarah absent from class because she did not show up for the morning lecture.
• Under Louisiana law, a person who has been missing for a certain period of time can be declared absent by the court.

The first example illustrates the first definition of absence, where John is physically away from his usual place of residence. The second example illustrates the second definition, where Sarah failed to appear for class. The third example illustrates the legal definition of absence in Louisiana, where a person can be declared absent by the court if they have been missing for a certain period of time.