When most people get married, they are understandably focused on building a future together, not on what may happen years later if the marriage comes to an end. Unfortunately, divorce is a reality for many couples, and when a divorce is on the horizon, people often find themselves wondering what will happen to certain assets and possessions that have both financial and sentimental value, such as wedding rings. Though a wedding ring may not be worth as much as a home or other major assets, it is often one of the most emotionally significant items involved in a divorce.

In Massachusetts, how a ring is treated often depends on the timing and circumstances. An engagement ring may be treated differently if the wedding never takes place than it would be after the parties are married. Wedding rings exchanged during the marriage, however, are generally addressed as part of the divorce and the parties’ overall property division.

Please continue reading and contact an experienced Massachusetts divorce lawyer from Caprio Law to learn more about how wedding rings are generally treated during the divorce process. Here are some of the questions you may have:

Is an Engagement Ring Considered Marital Property in Massachusetts?

It depends on whether the marriage actually occurred.

Following the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s 2024 decision in Johnson v. Settino, engagement rings are treated as conditional gifts when an engagement ends before marriage. This means that if the wedding is called off, the engagement ring must generally be returned to the person who gave it, regardless of who ended the engagement or who was “at fault” for the breakup.

Once the parties marry, however, the analysis changes. At that point, the condition attached to the engagement ring has generally been satisfied, and the ring may be addressed in the context of the parties’ divorce and overall property division.

Is a Wedding Ring Considered Marital Property in Massachusetts?

Wedding rings exchanged during the marriage are generally treated as property that may be considered in the divorce. Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state, which means that the court divides property in a manner it determines to be fair under the circumstances. Equitable does not always mean equal.

In many divorces, each spouse keeps his or her own wedding ring. This is especially common when the rings have more sentimental value than significant financial value. However, if a ring is particularly valuable, the court or the parties may assign it a monetary value and account for that value as part of the overall property division. Couples have flexibility in resolving these issues by agreement. For example, some spouses may agree to sell their rings and use the proceeds for their children or apply the funds toward marital expenses and debts. Some of the factors that may be considered include:

  • Who purchased the ring
  • When the ring was purchased
  • Whether marital funds were used to buy the ring
  • The appraised value of the ring
  • The overall circumstances of the marriage and divorce

Can My Spouse Demand That I Return My Engagement Ring or Wedding Ring in Massachusetts?

If the parties were engaged but never married, Massachusetts law now generally requires the engagement ring to be returned to the person who gave it, regardless of fault.
If the parties married and are now divorcing, the issue is different. In that situation, a spouse usually cannot simply demand the return of a ring solely because the marriage has ended. Instead, the ring is generally addressed as part of the divorce and equitable distribution process.

Disputes can potentially arise when:

  • The ring is a valuable family heirloom
  • The parties disagree about how the ring was purchased
  • The ring has significant monetary value

In situations such as these, the issue may become part of broader divorce negotiations.

What Happens If the Wedding Ring Has Significant Value?

While many wedding rings are primarily sentimental in nature, others may be worth thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars.

When determining how a valuable ring may affect the overall division of property, courts and attorneys will frequently look at the bigger picture. Some considerations may include the following:

  • The appraised value of the ring
  • How and when the ring was acquired
  • The financial resources of each spouse
  • Other marital assets and debts subject to division

Fortunately, many issues involving jewelry can be resolved through productive negotiations between the parties, but in other situations, court intervention may be necessary to determine the most appropriate outcome.

For example, if one spouse keeps a valuable wedding band or other piece of jewelry, the parties may address that value in the overall settlement. This may be done through an offset against other assets or as part of a broader negotiated resolution. In other cases, each spouse may simply keep his or her own ring without any separate offset, particularly where the value is modest or the parties agree to that arrangement.

If you are currently going through a divorce and have questions about your wedding ring, engagement ring, or any other asset that may be subject to division, we are here to help. Contact Caprio Law today.