We Broke Off the Engagement–Who Keeps the Ring?

During happier times, the future husband saved up, hopefully went somewhere other than Jared, and gave a big ole rock to his soon-to-be-bride. Then, disaster strikes: “I thought we were in an open relationship!” “Where were you hiding all these credit cards?!” “You voted for WHO?!” The next thing you know, the engagement’s off and our heartbroken lovers are wondering who gets to keep the engagement ring.

In Wisconsin, the courts have already decided that issue. According to the judges in Brown v. Thomas, engagement rings are “conditional” gifts. This means that an engagement ring is a gift conditioned on the marriage actually happening. If the marriage doesn’t happen, the ring must be returned.

But, she cries, that dirtbag broke up with me (or caused me to break up with him)! In Wisconsin, it doesn’t matter. Just like divorces are “no-fault” in the court’s eyes, so are engagement break-ups. In other words, Wisconsin’s judges have decided that they aren’t going to touch the whose-fault-was-it issue with a ten-foot pole.

It might be good news for you or bad news for you, but in Wisconsin, the engagement ring goes back to the buyer if the engagement falls through.

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