How to Get Your Rings Back from Your Ex

When couples break up they want all their own belongings returned, and that sometimes includes the engagement and wedding rings. Can they be legally returned to the other partner? Or do they now belong to the person who received them? Before you get started you need to get legal advice. Only a lawyer would know what laws take pre-eminence in this type of claim.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Legal advice

How to get your rings back from your ex

1. The name on the receipt of any purchased item is usually the name of the person who owns the possession. If both spouse's names are on the receipt, it could be established that both are joint owners giving the possibility of having them jointly distributed.
2. It needs to be established if these rings were gifts from one person to the other. If they were, then it could be concluded that they belong to the person who they were given to.
3. It needs to be established if these rings formed part of a contractual agreement. If it could be proved that the rings were a deposit for a contract, i.e. the marriage, that has now become null and void, then the deposit of the rings, like any legal deposit, could be ordered to be returned to the rightful owner. However, it could also be ordered that the deposit, being the rings, might have to be forfeited depending on who broke the contract. This is a point in contractual law that requires legal consideration.

Tips & Warnings

• A matter of this nature can be heard in small claims court provided the dollar amount is within the monetary jurisdiction of the court.
• The legal issues can be complex and it is strongly advised that you get legal advice before pursuing a claim against the other person.