Who Gets to Keep the Engagement Ring

Unfortunately, a lot of couples who dream of happily ever after never make it to the altar. A common question is who gets to keep the engagement ring? Lucky for us, the courts have had plenty of opportunity to address this issue. Some courts treat the engagement ring just like any other gift. A gift becomes the legal property of the recipient when given, regardless of whether the couple actually marries. Other courts treat it as a conditional gift; meaning [it] only legally becomes a gift to the bride if the marriage happens. If the couple breaks up before the wedding, whoever is at fault for the breakup may be the deciding factor. In many states, the person who did the breaking up forfeits his or her right to the ring. If you recently broke up with your fiancé and are battling over who gets to keep the ring, consider talking to a lawyer about how to resolve the situation.