Wedding and engagement rings can be immensely valuable assets. Many spend thousands and thousands of dollars to buy the perfect one for their partner. However, if the marriage ends, the question of who keeps these pricey pieces of jewelry. Continue reading to find out who keeps the wedding and engagement rings in a divorce.
Wedding and Engagement Rings
When it comes to dividing marital property, Massachusetts follows equitable distribution rules, which means property is distributed as fairly as possible. Since an engagement ring is given before the marriage takes place, and is considered a gift, it belongs to the recipient during the divorce process. However, if the wedding never happened and you broke up before tying the knot, engagement rings must be returned.
Wedding bands are also generally purchased prior to the wedding day and given during the ceremony as a gift, which is why the recipient also typically gets to keep the wedding band. Any additional jewelry purchased during the marriage as a gift, whether it be an anniversary gift or Christmas gift, also tend to belong to the recipient. That said, items of a substantial value may be considered marital property and divided between both parties.
The end of a marriage can be overwhelming and difficult and, though you may want these expensive symbols of marriage back, the fact is that they will usually be treated as separate property and belong to your spouse since they were given as gifts.
Speak to One of Our Knowledgeable Divorce Attorneys About Your Case Today!
If you cannot make your marriage work and plan on filing for divorce, you should not hesitate to hire a skilled legal advocate to represent you. At Barach Law Group LLC, our legal team has more than 20 years of experience and a history of successful results. With our team on your side, you can rest assured you will receive the best possible results for your case.
Reach out to our law office today at 617-819-1805 to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled divorce attorneys to get started on your case and learn more about what we can do to help you during this emotionally challenging time.