Engagement called off.

What is the name of your state? Va.
If an engagement is called off, is the once-engaged individual required to give back the ring? Does it depend on who calls off the engagement? If the once-engaged individual refuses to give back the ring, is small claims court the place to go to get the ring back?

In most cases, engagement rings are considered a gift, therefore, do not have to be returned if the engagement is called off.

Sorry, Racer, disagree on this one. Numerous court cases have decided that an engagement ring is a 'conditional' gift...... given on the condition of marriage. Usually the ring must be returned, or in some cases retained by the person who did NOT break the engagement.

See:
http://writ.corporate.findlaw.com/grossman/20011023.html
http://www.chron.com/cgi-bin/auth/story.mpl/content/chronicle/business/lipman/97/lipman1117.html
http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectID/E2120B2B-1C65-4E77-92A0ADC4FA3EDC2A/catID/697DBAFE-20FF-467A-9E9395985EE7E825
http://curie.pct.edu/courses/evavra/PCWM/las/LAS150JW.htm
http://www.brandeslaw.com/102798c4.htm
http://www.law.ufl.edu/news/releases/980212-1.shtml