I have been living with him for three years, taking care of our home and his children, I have no money of my own, I have no education. He is a multi-millionare and is leaving me with nothing.
2007-02-17 17:21:18 · 17 answers · asked by brokenheart 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
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2007-02-17 17:25:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The ring belongs to whoever bought it. An engagement ring is not exactly a gift, it is a symbol of a marriage that will take place in the future. If a marriage does not take place in the future, the ring is technically the property of the person who bought it. Unless the ring was wrapped up in a gift or you were asked to pick it out or it was truly a gift given to you with witnesses looking on, I would consider the engagement ring a gift; otherwise, the engagement ring should not really be seen as anyone's property, but the property of the person who bought it.
About taking care of his home and his kids, I can see how you had made this your job, since you had imagined that you were going to be his new wife and a new caretaker to his kids way before you two were supposed to go through with the marriage. So, what I would do, since the marriage has been called off completely is calculate how much it would've cost for him to hire a full-time caretaker to take care of one kid and calculate it by the number of kids he has. Then, calculate how much it would've cost for a live-in maid to take care of his living space and calculate that cost by however many kids he has, and then, add the costs together. If the costs add up to the cost of the ring, the ring is yours. If the costs add up to more than the ring, say it goes towards the rent that he had never told you had to pay. I think this is the best solution.
2007-02-17 18:39:50 · answer #2 · answered by beenthere 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on where you live(jurisdictions differ). Typically, in a legal sense, a gift becomes the property of the recipient when it is given. (unless it is a conditional gift in the future). However, the law of manners says that an engagement ring should only be kept if it was given as a birthday or christmas gift. But as far as the bigger picture goes, I would get yourself a good lawyer. You may have some sort of civil claim entitling you to far more than a ring. Because you took care of the home and children, and did not work as a result, you may be able to get some sort of monetary award because this was like a pseudo-marriage. (again jurisdictions differ) We read a case similar to this(it was a WV case) for one of my classes last semester. Why worry about a measly ring when you could get much more from him? Good luck.
2007-02-17 17:36:18 · answer #3 · answered by justpeachee22 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am no lawyer, but I would assume that you get to keep the ring since he called off the engagement. You both entered into the engagement and the ring was a symbol of that agreement to get married. But, he decided to break that agreement therefor I think the ring is yours. However, if you broke of the engagement then I think he gets it.
But, if he is breaking up with you I cannot believe he would ask for the ring back. What a creep? You are lucky to get out before it was too late.
2007-02-17 17:32:03 · answer #4 · answered by Mr Mojo Risin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I couldn't swear to the legality, but you've got a pretty good argument. TRADITION holds that if the man breaks the engagement, the woman keeps the ring. If SHE breaks the engagement, she gives back the ring. It's kind of like the ring was a security deposit on her, and if you break a deal after making a deposit, you lose the security.
I'm sorry to hear of your situation. You're probably better off without him--once you get your financial situation straightened out!
2007-02-17 17:28:10 · answer #5 · answered by Vaughn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you have it, take it when you leave. Why would you shack up with a man without making him make a commitment.
Can you afford to hire a lawyer to fight for it, you will loose at least
50 pct of the value. I say pack your stuff get the hell out.
How could you have let yourself be so dependent that you didnt have a credit card or money from him. Did you have to ask for every penny you spent.
2007-02-17 17:29:07 · answer #6 · answered by Rick D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on where you live. Some states say its a gift and you keep it, others that it a promise to marry and if it falls out you must return the ring. So you will have to find out what your state says.
2007-02-17 17:41:09 · answer #7 · answered by uthockey32 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the ring is yours. if you live in a common law marrriage state, you are entitled to more. If he made a promise of marriage and then retracts it without any reason (like if you cheated on him) you could also recover more. Get a lawyer and sue him! 2 years of your life is an important bargaining chip!
2007-02-18 00:08:48 · answer #8 · answered by Suednim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear that he has only used you, but, the man is always entitled to the ring back legally. So, you do have to give it back, but I would do it in front of a witness, to prove you did, so he can not say you never returned it later. You could have some legal recourse's, contact a lawyer, let lawyer explain it to you.
2007-02-17 17:30:08 · answer #9 · answered by m c 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Check with a lawyer. Depending on the laws of your state, he may owe you "palimony" in additon to the ring which he abandoned.
If you didn't keep the ring you may have a hard time getting it back.
2007-02-17 17:52:21 · answer #10 · answered by CJohn317 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep the ring and say you lost it, and then pawn it and put the money in a trust fund that can't be touched and that will mature by the time your kids are old enough to go to college. That way, they will have an opportunity to succeed in life.
2007-02-17 17:28:51 · answer #11 · answered by na n 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋