Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Indiana
ownership of gifts
I just ended a relationship and during the relationship i was given several gifts including a tv sofa loveseat a grill and washer and dryer. Now that i have ended the relationship my ex claims that these gifts are his because he purchased them. He never lived with me or was on my lease, he just visited. Now hes threatening to get a lawyer to get these items back. Who legally has the right to ownership of these items. ( iwas never told that if we broke up that he would take them back- hence the word gift
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: ownership of gifts
If your Ex really goes to court to get these items back, he will look like a complete idiot and be laughed out of court. (So it's unlikely he will find a lawyer who would take the case, because no good lawyer wants to hear the courthouse snickering as he flees down the steps in abject defeat.) So your ex will have to try to look like a fool all by himself, in small claims court. Just be sure you file an answer and appear at the proceedings, so you can make your case that the items were gifts. Good luck.
Re: ownership of gifts
You can keep the gifts. No sane lawyer would take his case unless the gifts were given in contemplation of marriage.