ENGAGEMENT PRESENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 3

ENGAGEMENT PRESENTS.

The much-discussed question as to whether a girl is legally bound, to return presents given to her by her lover when slid determines to break off the engagement has'thus been answered by a. London lawyer:— She need not'part with such presents unless they were in' due form given to her on the distinct understanding thilt they were only to b& hers if tho marriage took place, : and not otherwise. "The only way in which' a man can safeguard himself against the los§ of tho presents he gives to his sweetheart should she decide not to marry him," a wellknown barrister said, "is for . him to send her a'registered letter saying: '1 give you- so«and-so on the understanding that we .shall; be married in'due course/ The alternative way of effecting the same thing is for him to say It to her verbally in the presence of at least two witnesses when-making the present. Of course, some , things aru so plainly conditional upon marriage that that is assumed. Anything towards the future home, placed in thd woman's care is such a conditional gift, and is recoverable at law. In all other cases the proper recourso is to sue the party who. breaks off the . engagement lor breach of promise. Any other action is incorrect. It seems to us, for instance, that the engagement ring itself is given to seal the bargain, and is the girl's absolute property. The wedding ring would be in a different category. "The wedding presents of third parties are conditional gifts if nVada- in view of the marrjage,' and the proper course would be to return them if the. wedding failed to take place. It is very doubtful, though, whether they, coulu be recovered unless it was 'explicitly stated when they were given that they were to be returned if tlie marriage .did not take place/"