The topic of this Family Blog Article focuses upon what happens to the engagement ring in the event of a “broken engagement”. Most of the cases which are cited below provide the following information to the reader: An engagement ring is a conditional gift given in contemplation of marriage; and, therefore, an engagement ring is not an absolute gift.
I will provide to the reader a synopsis of several cases in Ohio. In all scenarios below, the Donor is the male person gifting the engagement ring and the Donee is the female person receiving the engagement ring.
Scenario #1:
Facts: In August 1980, while still in college, Donor gave a diamond engagement ring to Donee. Both parties then returned to their respective colleges. The Donor was attending college in Canada and the Donee was attending college in Athens, Ohio. In May 1981, the Donor returned to Ohio and demanded the return of the engagement ring. The Donee refused to return the ring. Donor then filed a Complaint against the Donee for the return of the engagement ring, or in the alternative, damages in the amount of $2,000.
The case cited the general principle of law: The donor of an … Read More... “Who Gets to Keep the Engagement Ring?”