Q: Do I have to give back my engagement ring after breakup if we never married?
I received an engagement ring as a promise to marry my ex-fiancé, but we broke up after six months without getting legally married or having a wedding. He hasn't asked about the ring but requested other belongings back. I live in Utah, and he lives in California. Do I have to give the engagement ring back?
A: Given the ring’s status as a symbol of a promise that didn’t pan out, and since he hasn’t brought it up, you’re not obligated to proactively return it. But if he requests it, the default legal stance in both states leans toward giving it back unless you have a solid reason tied to his fault (Utah) or an unusual gift scenario (both states). You might want to clarify why the engagement ended and where the proposal happened for a sharper answer. This is viewed as a conditional gift, so unless he gave under different circumstances or with wording saying you can have the ring regardless of marriage he would typically have a stronger case if it ended up in court.
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