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by Self Consuming Cannibal on November 19th, 2009
In most states an engagement ring is viewed as a contract that you are going to get married. If you "break the contract" by deciding not to get married (even if he decides it) then legally he is entitled to the ring. I hope this helps.
by 232499 on November 19th, 2009
No wonder you two broke up!
by jrbowler on November 19th, 2009
Legally you can. Whether it is morally or socially acceptable is questionable.
by Dodgy Dog in a Sable COAT on November 19th, 2009
No. An engagement ring is a promise on a contract of marriage. If the contract is not fulfilled, you have to give the ring back.
by Shemarq the Wamama on November 19th, 2009
If you broke it off with him, then you should give it back. If he broke off the engagement with you, then you get to keep it -- but if its a family heirloom, then it would be best to give it back either way.
by greenstone on November 19th, 2009
I dont know what its like in the US. but in Canada a engagment ring is still viewed as a gift therefore it is yours to keep. But out of decency I would return the ring. Especially if your the one breaking it off.
by Ms.Fits on November 19th, 2009
I would give it back to him out of decency, I mean he did give you it with the intent of being with you forever, and now that that isn't going to happen, it's only fair to give it back, or at least put the effort in to try to give it back (if he tells you to keep it, then it's yours, but personally I wouldn't want to keep an engagement ring after a break up, it would be too painful)
by Over and Out on November 19th, 2009
If you broke it off, I'd give it back. If he did, I'd say keep it ... if it were mutual, give it back.
by Nicole on November 19th, 2009
Depends on your state law, but I believe if you broke off the engagement you in a since did not follow through with your promise to get married, so technically he could sue you for the ring. If he called it off then you can keep it legally.
BUT really if you are not going to marry the man why would you want to keep the ring?
by Sharona Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot on November 19th, 2009
It's all yours. I would give it back, but that is me.
by Thriftymaid on November 19th, 2009
No, give the ring back unless he insists you keep it (get that in writing).
by katydid15 on November 19th, 2009
Legally yes you can keep the ring, but you should make the gesture of giving it back.
by The Irish Bomb on November 19th, 2009
ok listen he gave you the ring therefore its yours if i were you i would keep the ring and sell it and buy him a nice f you card and send it to his mom
by spock's brain on November 19th, 2009
So the answer is, we have 10 contradictory answers. Each and everyone claims to know what the law would be, even though they haven't found out the jurisdiction!
.
If you have a medical question, ask a doctor, of you have a legal question...
by The Irish Bomb on November 19th, 2009
its yours he has no say
by urk on November 19th, 2009
Legally the ring belongs to him. Give it back.
by The Chief on November 19th, 2009
"Legally"? Yes, you can keep it...in some states. It was given to you as a gift.
However, even though there is no legal written contract between the two of you, you ought to consider the intent and purpose behind the giving and receiving of an engagement ring.
Giving an engagement ring is part of a proposal of marriage by the individual (usually a man). Accepting the ring is part of the acceptance of that proposal.
It is a symbol of intent for two people.
If an engagement is broken off, the ring may be either kept or returned. It is USUALLY returned, part of the symbology of the breakup.
Courts GENERALLY treat the engagement ring as a gift. However, the majority of courts also consider such a gift to be a CONDITIONAL one. In other words, it was given as a gift, which is finalized upon a future event.
Some people maintain that the event talked about is acceptance of the marriate proposal and not the marriage ceremony, thus if the engagement is broken off, the ring remains the property of the lady.
However, this argument often loses in court. Most courts consider the engagement ring to carry an implied condition of marriage.
And some courts consider the CAUSE for the breakup. In other words, if the breakup is over a matter of honor, like the ring donor was unfaithful, then the recipient of the ring has no legal obligation to return the ring.
And still other courts don't care what the reason is: if the engagement is called off for any reason, they feel the ring should be returned, period.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/article-30198.html
My opinion is this: the engagement ring is a symbol of intent between two people to commit themselves to a marriage. If the marriage is broken off, for whatever reason, the ring no longer has any symbolic meaning of that intent. So return the ring, unless there is a mutual agreement otherwise.
by phantom -x- on November 19th, 2009
Its an engagement ring, are you still engaged? no, he is already losing you, return it
by charismaqueen on October 13th, 2010
In the most recent court case, a judge ruled that Danielle Cavallieri must return her engagement ring to John Gunther because state law allows a person to get property back that was given "in contemplation of marriage" and that "fault in the breakup of an engagement is irrelevant."
In almost all cases, the judge ruled in favor of the engagement ring being returned. I've never heard of a case where someone can keep the engagement ring.
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You're reading I was engaged but we have since broken up, can I legally keep the engagement ring?
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