Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Alabama

Can my ex boyfriend sue me for a promise ring? Note we were never engaged, and this was a ring promising that he would be with me and later propose to me when we were both ready.


Asked on 3/08/10, 6:03 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

James Coleman Murchison & Howard, LLC

First question. How old are both you and boyfriend? In you are under 19 years of age, no one is suing anyone else. Alabama law is not clear on engagement rings. The legal question is one of gifts. If it a conditional gift, "I'll give you a ring if you promise to marry me" he would argue that your rejection of his proposal means that the gift is revoked. If he gave you a ring because you promised to accept his proposal when he decided to propose the whole thing would fail because it would be a promise to promise to do something. A promise to promise is what's called a "nullity" in the law. Because this is not an engagement, and because the gift may not be conditional I believe he would have difficulty in winning a suit to revoke the gift, just because the two of you are no longer together. Good luck

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Answered on 3/14/10, 9:52 am


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