What Happens to the Gifts When an Engagement is Called Off?
Manyyears ago, a relative had an engagement party, and we gave the couple a gift. Ican’t remember the present, but the couple never married. In fact,we didn’t find out they were no longer engaged until ten years later.
Photo by Yan Krukau
Thefate of gifts exchanged during an engagement when broken can depend onvarious factors, including the jurisdiction and the nature of the gifts.Consulting with a lawyer for specific legal advice is recommended.
Inmany cases, the laws surrounding engagement gifts are similar to thosegoverning engagement rings. Some jurisdictions consider engagement gifts conditional gifts, given in anticipation of marriage. If the engagement iscalled off, the person who provided the gift may have the right to request itsreturn, as the purpose for which the gift was given (marriage) is no longervalid.
Photo by GustavoFring
However,the outcome can differ based on the circumstances and local laws. For instance,if the gift was given on a specific occasion, such as a birthday or holiday, itmight be viewed as an absolute gift and not subject to return. Similarly, ifthe gift was an heirloom or family treasure, it might have different legalimplications.
