Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Florida
Legal rights for the return of a engagement ring.
I recently broke off an engagement (1 month) with my girlfriend. I want my diamond ring returned but she is wants $700 before I get the ring returned. She wants the money for expenses she feels that she has insued in dating me. She believes she deserves funding for a trip to LA to look for a house to buy. She also wants to put the money towards her costs in breaking her lease on her appartment. This is rediculous to me. Do I have any legal leg to stand on in getting my diamond ring returned without being black mailed.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Legal rights for the return of a engagement ring.
Quite frankly, I don't know whether you have a viable legal right or claim for the return of the ring. I would have to research the issue. Without conducting any research, on the one hand, it appears that the ring was a gift, and, therefore it belongs to the person you gave it to. On the other hand, if it was given in exchange for or in consideration of marriage, and the marriage did not happen, then you may have a claim for its return. I don't know the answer, but hopefully another lawyer will.
If you don't get the ring back, and the woman was the wrong one for you, then you are a lucky man. There is probably nothing more painful and costly than marrying the wrong person.