property new-york-state minor
Can my ex boyfriend legally take back a gift he gave me during our relationship?
<p>My boyfriend and I have been together for a year. During our relationship, he had an old computer lying around in his house that he no longer had any use for. He gave it to me as a birthday gift and I spent over $50 on things for it, plus my family gifted me other things to go with it (desk, keyboard, etc.). He says that if I break up with him, he will demand to get it back. Is he legally allowed to do this? He says that he only gave it to me to &quot;borrow&quot; until I could afford one of my own, but this was never stated before now. If he had told me that was his plan, I would not have agreed to take it, as my circumstances limit me from being able to purchase a computer of my own. We are both minors, but he has a history of being very extreme, so I don't know if he will try to turn it into a legal issue. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Generally not. A special body of law applies to engagement rings on the theory that they are contingent upon an expectation of marriage and in some jurisdictions (I haven't checked NYS in particular recently) they are subject to return.</p>
<p>The practical issue is showing who owns property that is not subject to a certificate of title. Usually, the person buying it is the initial owner, but usually an accepted gift is not revocable. The question is whether there was a gift or whether you borrowed the item. Usually, possession is 9/10th of the law and courts aren't a viable way to resolve such a dispute and usually law enforcement won't intervene calling it a &quot;civil dispute.&quot;</p>
