Broken Engagement

yoni_one

kyssyn wrote: »

I think your nephew should just walk away from this. £1000 may seem like a lot of money but it may have been worth it to get shot of her

Was just about to say the same thing, spending / losing 1000 quid to be shot of her could be an expensive but valuable lesson learned! There's a high chance it could have cost him a helluva lot more than that had she waited 'til after the big day to dump him.

That said, I am sorry if your nephew is badly hurt in more than in his pocket.

Claire3121

pinkpauline34 wrote: »

My husband's nephew has just been dumped by his fiancee of just over a year. He spent over £1k on the engagement ring and she won't return it to him.

Please can someone advise how he can go about getting the ring back - can he make a claim through the small claims court and if so, is it easy enough to do on his own. He lives in England.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Im pretty sure its classed as a gift,therefore isnt required to give it back.

Hectors_House

ETA
"In Britain, if the man ends the engagement then the woman is usually entitled to keep the engagement ring. If the woman breaks the engagement then the man is legally entitled to the return of the ring. However if the ring was offered as part of a gift, for example on Christmas day or Valentines day then it will be seen as a gift and does not need to be returned. Each case is different and it will usually be left to the couple to decide who keeps the engagement ring. The engagement ring is usually seen as an unconditional gift in the UK."

Taken from "Contract Law UK"[/quote]


On my very first date with an ex, knowing that I collect old rings (Dark Ages, Medieval, Roman) he presented me with a ring.

I was flabbergasted as it was such a generous gesture. When we split I asked him if he wanted it back. He told me it was a gift and that I should keep it and I told him I may offer the whole collection to my local museum if he is happy with that.

For Xmas he sent me three more - one an SS Honor ring he'd found in his father's collection when he was going through his effects.

Rings are an emotive subject and have been used down the centuries as symbols of shared love, power, wealth etc.

Maybe the young lad should remember the love with which the ring was given and the good times they had.

As others have said, it's monatary value will have dropped and surely it would only be a visual reminder that things didn't work out.

SandC

It would be a tremendous hassle to go through proceedings to get the ring back, it doesn't sound like a small claims issue as it's not something owed as in payment for services or product.

I have always thought it is classed as a gift.

Plus the resale value of a second hand engagement ring - well he would be lucky to get £200 for it I reckon.

pinkshoes

When he asked her to marry him, she took the ring on exceptance of his proposal. If she'd declined, obviously she wouldn't have taken the ring.

Now that SHE has pulled out of the engagement, she needs to give the ring back, as she has ended the contract.

If he pulled out of the engagement, then he would have had to let her keep it...

He should send her a recorded delivery letter, pointing out that if she no longer wishes to enter into a marriage with him, she must return the ring. Ask her to return the ring (or a cheque for £1000) within 7 days, stating that otherwise he will have no other option but to take legal action against her, where she will also end up having to pay court costs.

It will only cost him £30 to do the initial online small claims court thing, which is nothing if he stands to potentially gain £1000!

Hopefully she'll then just send the ring back...

(Morally, I think she's a complete b*tch to keep it if she broke it off!)

Oldernotwiser

This is the good thing with sticking with tradition (and I don't mean something back in the depths of time!); everyone knows where they are If he had dumped her, she keeps the ring, if she dumps him, she should give it back.
It's not complicated.

Mandles

Auzelia wrote: »

Why would she be expected to return the ring?

(seriously, I didnt know you had to)

You have never watched judge judy.;). She says it is very clear that a broken engagement means you return the ring but that is judge judy and she is in America.

I have a relative who is a complete madam.She kept the ring from a broken engagement and he never got it back despite trying.

Citizens advise say "If an engagement is broken, a woman can keep the enagagement ring unless at the time she was given it, the man specifically said that it should be returned if the engagement were broken; however if the couple cannot agree about entitlement to property, either person can apply to the county court to decide the issue".

So i think it is a very bitter pill your son just has to swallow. Sorry.

honeypop

LittleTinker wrote: »

Erm, yes it does. Its part of a contract and she broke it. Therefore it has to be returned or he can take her to court.


ETA
"In Britain, if the man ends the engagement then the woman is usually entitled to keep the engagement ring. If the woman breaks the engagement then the man is legally entitled to the return of the ring. However if the ring was offered as part of a gift, for example on Christmas day or Valentines day then it will be seen as a gift and does not need to be returned. Each case is different and it will usually be left to the couple to decide who keeps the engagement ring. The engagement ring is usually seen as an unconditional gift in the UK."

Taken from "Contract Law UK"

You say it's part of a contract then quote a piece that says it's an unconditional gift, they contradict each other no?