Confused.

[Sqad]

Back in the 50's, if you asked a girl to marry you and gave her a ring (engagement ring).......you were engaged and she ceased to be your girlfirend and become your fiancee.

Now, if you did not go through with your pledge to marry her, she could sue you through the courts. Was that ever the situation and if so when did the law change?

[ummmm]

Never heard of that.

Regardless of what happens between me and him, I'm keeping the ring :-)

[emmie]

called breach of promise i believe...

[daisya]

I remember something like that sqad, can't recall what it was called though.

[emmie]

i do remember it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breach_of_promise

[Sqad]

em....that's it........does it still exist?

[Robinia]

I agree with em, I think there's been a breach of promise thing around forever.

[Old_Geezer]

I have occasionally wondered if that had any legal basis or was an urban myth. Certainly I've never taken the risk.

[ummmm]

I don't think it exists anymore.

Us ladies no longer need men to support us.

[daisya]

That's it em.

[sebhfhion]

Breach of promise was more than likely used in the days when a woman needed to 'marry well' and it was to the advantage of the brides family to ensure the wedding went ahead.

[albaqwerty]

abolished in 1970, under a Law Reform Act
will try to find the link, but this one is incredibly dry

http://www.lawreform.ie/_fileupload/consultation%20papers/wpBreachofPromise.htm

[bookbinder]

According to one of these websites, a prenuptial agreement [prenupt] is legally enforceable in a divorce case.
http://www.terry.co.uk/pre-nuptial.html
http://www.prenuptialagreementsuk.co.uk/enf-prenuptial-agreements-uk.php

[joggerjayne]

Certainly not the case now.

And the ring belongs to the (former) bride, or fiancée ...

... because ... it ... was ... a ... gift !!

(and yes, yes, that does take into account the presumption of gift, or presumption of no gift, for persons with or without a close proximate relationship)

[emmie]

Breach of promise or heart balm is a former common law tort. It was also called breach of contract to marry.[1]

From at least medieval times until the early 20th century, a man's promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract. If the man were to subsequently change his mind, he would be said to be in "breach" of this promise and subject to litigation for damages.

[Sqad]

seb...so was it, is it a law?

[Sqad]

em..sorry..we cross posted.

So it still is law.

[albaqwerty]

It's no longer a law sqadlet.
You're safe :-D

[emmie]

Sqad, the link does give plenty of info, could only print the first bit.

[emmie]

not now i believe...