Broken engagements can be an odd, confusing and extremely painful experience. As family law experts we thought we’d shed some light on what happens to the ring if an engagement is broken.
The Gift of Engagement
This is currently a hot topic due to Ben Simmons a US basketball player demanding the engagement ring returned back from his ex-fiancée. Ben has instructed his solicitor to write to her requesting the ring is returned. The ring in question is valued at £800,000 but who gets the ring and what is the legal position.
Legal Stance on Returning the Ring
Whether the engagement ring in question is from Tiffany’s, a family heirloom or from a sweet shop the legal stance is clear. An engagement ring is presumed to be an absolute gift to the person receiving it whether or not the marriage takes place.
However, this can be rebutted by proving that the ring was given on the express condition that it should be returned if the marriage did not take place. This is not very romantic and in many cases these engagement rings are not given with such a condition attached.
Require Support Around Engagement or Divorce?
If you require support around this topic you can contact us here at Maria Fogg Family Law. You can also view our services pages and legal aid support pages here.
