Who gets the engagement ring if the wedding doesn’t take place?
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Who gets the engagement ring if the wedding doesn’t take place?
The engagement took place in Canada but we are US residents.
Asked on December 15, 2011 under Family Law, New York
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
The courts of most jurisdictions consider an engagement ring to be what is known as a "conditional gift"; That means it is a gift given on condition that a future event occur (in your case the ring was given on the condition that a marriage takes place). If the event does not occur, then the donor has the right to get the gift back (i.e. the ring must be given back).
That having been said, in a situation such as this fault does matter. Most courts reason that it isn't fair that the donor should get the ring back if the donee stood ready to go ahead with the marriage and the donor broke it off (as it would be unfair for the donee to keep the ring if the engagement was broken because of the donee's unfaithfulness or other wrongdoing).
So depending on the details of the case (which you did not provide), you may or may not have to return it.
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