Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

There is no reported case law on this topic in Maryland, so the issue is unresolved. Other states have decided the issue both ways. On the one hand, some states treat the engagement ring as a conditional gift, expressly contingent on the marriage taking place. Thus, if the marriage does not occur, the contingency has not been satisfied, and the ring is to be returned. Other states treat the ring as an unconditional gift when made, so that once the ring is given, it cannot be reclaimed. I have not studied the law of other jurisdictions in any detail, but I suspect there are some states that would consider whose conduct led to the demise of the relationship.