Who Gets the Ring When the Engagement’s Off?

Use these links to jump to different sections:

• The Law in Ohio
• Exceptions to the Rule
• Pre-Planning Saves Costs… and Heartaches

For whatever reason, engagements are called off every day. Perhaps one partner wasn’t faithful; maybe the other spent too much on the ring. Whatever the reason, many ex-couples find themselves with a legal dilemma: Who owns the property acquired before the wedding?

The Law in Ohio

An engagement ring is a gift offered in contemplation of marriage, regardless of who offered the union.

However, Ohio courts view engagement rings as a conditional gift or condition of marriage, meaning that a ring is given as part of an implied promise of a future event—the promise that one party will marry the other.

If there is no wedding, the condition of the gift is not fulfilled, and the gift—or the value of the ring—should be returned. Engagement rings should be returned to the giver of the ring regardless of who breaks off the engagement, and regardless of the reason.

This “no-fault approach” to dissolutions is specifically tailored in Ohio state law to the engagement ring. Jilted lovers have found that other gifts given in anticipation of marriage are seen as unconditional gifts, and are therefore not automatically returned upon a break.

Exceptions to the Rule

One may run into an issue if the proposal happens on a birthday, Christmas, valentine’s day or another gift-giving holiday, because gifts given on those days are considered an unconditional outright gift.

Naturally, one does not expect to be compensated for a birthday gift by the receiver of that gift. Therefore, it could be argued that the diamond ring was a birthday gift, and not intended as a conditional gift at all. However, courts have not been swayed by this argument.

There may further be a situation wherein neither party wants the ring. This does not have to be a point of contention, as there are many places—both jewelers and online services—that will buy back a ring that is no longer wanted.

Pre-Planning Saves Costs… and Heartaches

The loss and pain involved in a broken engagement can throw individuals into irrational anger. But there are legal ways to protect yourself from potentially costly and drawn-out processes. Though prenuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements can be seen as anti-romantic, they may reduce potential future headaches—especially if passed-down family heirlooms are involved.

Relationships are often seen as the milestones of our lives. For better or worse, however, some of them don’t last.

If the unfortunate should happen, and there is a dispute over who gets the engagement ring, you should seek legal advice by contacting a law form to speak with an experienced and reputable family law attorney or mediator. A family law or divorce lawyer familiar with your state’s engagement ring laws can help smooth the rough edges of contention and allow both parties to move on.

For more information on this area, see our overviews of family law, divorce, and mediation and collaborative law.