[Case Summary]This case involves a dispute over a gift contract for a house purchased during the couple's relationship. Li Na, the woman, and Zhang Nan, the man, purchased a marital home under Li Na's name during their relationship. After the breakup, Zhang Nan changed his mind and sued Li Na, claiming that the gift was a "conditional gift (in the nature of a bride price)" and demanding the return of the gifted money amounting to 594,048 yuan. The case is being handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Zhu GuixinThe attorney for the defendant, Li Na, claimed that the 500,000 yuan was an economic compensation agreed upon by both parties, not a conditional gift, and pointed out that the plaintiff's claims exceeded the statute of limitations and the preclusive period for the right of revocation. The core disputes were the determination of the nature of the payment and the statute of limitations. In the end, the court rejected most of the plaintiff's claims and only ordered Li Na to return 100,000 yuan. Applicable legal provisions: Article 658 of the Civil Code, etc.

I. Review of the case facts

"Do I need to return the money I transferred during the relationship after a breakup?" and "Is a large-scale gift considered a betrothal gift or a simple gift?" are common questions in relationship disputes. Li Na and Zhang Nan were university classmates and started dating in 2013. In 2015, Zhang Nan was posted abroad, and the couple lived apart for a long time. They discussed purchasing a marital home, but since Zhang Nan had already bought a property in Zhengzhou and couldn't enjoy the first-home purchase discount, they decided to purchase a property in Shenyang under Li Na's name. The purchase price and mortgage were paid by Zhang Nan monthly. During the relationship, Li Na hoped Zhang Nan would return to China, but Zhang Nan explicitly stated in December 2021 that he would stay abroad permanently, and the couple separated amicably. Given that the property was purchased for marriage, the two agreed to sell it after the breakup. Zhang Nan acknowledged that the appreciation of 500,000 yuan would belong to Li Na as compensation. In June 2022, the property was sold for 2.18 million yuan, and Li Na received a balance of 1.35 million yuan. As agreed, Li Na transferred 850,000 yuan to Zhang Nan and kept 500,000 yuan for herself. Zhang Nan issued a "Personal Statement" confirming that the appreciation would belong to Li Na and recorded a video to prove his voluntary payment. However, in January 2025, Zhang Nan suddenly changed his mind and sued Li Na, claiming that the gift was a "conditional gift (betrothal gift) that failed to meet the marriage conditions" and demanding the return of 594,048 yuan in gift money.

II. The focus of the case

  • Focus 1: Is Zhang Nan's transfer of money a gift (bride price) subject to the condition of marriage?The core issue of this case is whether the 500,000 yuan was an agreed upon financial compensation during the division of the house after the breakup, or a gift conditional on marriage.
  • Focus II: Whether the plaintiff's claim exceeds the statute of limitations and the exclusionary period for the right of revocation.Starting from 2025, the lawsuit will be filed. The statute of limitations for transfers made before January 2022 has already exceeded three years. The claimant failed to exercise the right to revoke the gift within one year after knowing the grounds for revocation.
  • Focus 3: Distinction between the use of funds and the provision of evidence.Some of the money was given as birthday wishes, while some was directly paid to third parties and had nothing to do with Li Na. It should not be returned.

III. The professional intervention of Hengluo Law Firm

The party involved (the defendant) claimed that:The 500,000 yuan in question is a clear agreement reached by both parties after their breakup regarding the sale of the house and the division of the proceeds. Zhang Nan issued a "Personal Statement" and a video to prove that the economic compensation was voluntarily paid and had nothing to do with the bride price. Li Na has already returned 850,000 yuan in accordance with the agreement and has no obligation to make any further repayments.

The plaintiff (Zhang Nan) claims that:The funds involved in this case are a gift subject to the condition of marriage (in the nature of a bride price). Since the marriage condition has not been fulfilled, the defendant is required to return the gift of 594,048 yuan, which includes all the gifts given during the relationship.

Legal opinion of Hengluo Law Firm:Zhu GuiyingAfter accepting the client's mandate, the lawyer comprehensively reviewed the evidence: collected WeChat chat records, Zhang Nan's "Personal Statement" and videos, real estate purchase contracts, loan repayment receipts, Li Na's transportation and accommodation tickets for trips to Shenyang and quarantine certificates; verified the transfer records to distinguish between general gifts and payments related to the purchase of real estate; and organized the timeline to form a complete chain of evidence. The lawyer put forward the core opinion that the funds involved in the case were not conditional gifts. The 500,000 yuan was an economic compensation agreed upon by both parties, and Zhang Nan made the payment voluntarily. The lawsuit filed by Li Na in 2025 against the transfers made before January 2022 exceeded the three-year statute of limitations, and the claim to revoke the gift exceeded the exclusionary period stipulated in Article 658 of the Civil Code, so the right of revocation was extinguished. Li Na had fully fulfilled her obligation to return 850,000 yuan, and Zhang Nan, as a person with full civil capacity, had made a voluntary gift with a valid and legal intention, which could not be unilaterally revoked. Zhang Nan claimed that the amount included general gifts such as birthday wishes and direct payments to third parties, which had nothing to do with Li Na.

IV. Outcome of the case

After trial, the court held that the WeChat chat records showed that, in addition to the down payment and mortgage loan for the house, the plaintiff also made several small-amount gifts to express love on specific festivals or for daily expenses, which constituted ordinary gifts. The purchase of the house involved a large sum of money, and it was purchased by the couple for marriage, with the house registered under Li Na's name and funded by Zhang Nan, reflecting their hope for future marriage. Most of the 500,000 yuan Li Na received as a gift from the sale of the house was clearly beyond the scope of ordinary couple's interactions, and it was evidently money paid by Zhang Nan for their relationship. Later, the couple's relationship broke down and they were unable to get married. According to the principle of fairness, the defendant should appropriately return the gift money to the plaintiff after the sale of the house. Based on the specific circumstances, the court determined that the defendant should return 100,000 yuan to the plaintiff as a gift. The judgment is as follows: The defendant Li Na shall return 100,000 yuan to the plaintiff Zhang Nan within 15 days from the effective date of the judgment; and the plaintiff Zhang Nan's other claims shall be dismissed.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

This case is handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Zhu GuiyingAgent. For property disputes arising from transfers and gifts during the relationship, the court has formed a relatively unified view: large-scale transfers are often deemed as conditional gifts aimed at marriage, while small-scale transfers are generally regarded as general gifts to enhance the relationship. Transfers with clear expressions of love, such as 520 and 1314, are rarely supported for return. In this case, the lawyer, by accurately grasping the legal relationship of the gift contract and solidly building the evidence system, successfully helped the client greatly reduce losses and refute most of the plaintiff's claims.

VI. Common Questions about Marriage and Romance-Related Gift Cases (FAQ)

  1. Q: If I transfer money to my partner during our relationship, do I need to pay it back after we break up?
    A:Transfers of small amounts to express love are generally considered gifts that do not need to be returned; transfers of large amounts for the purpose of marriage may be considered conditional gifts, and if the couple breaks up before getting married, the money may need to be returned.
  2. Q: How can the man defend himself if the woman demands the return of the betrothal gifts and the gift money after the breakup?
    A:It can be proven that the funds involved are either general gifts or economic compensation agreed upon after the breakup, and it is necessary to review whether the other party has exceeded the statute of limitations or the revocation period of the right of revocation.
  3. Q: If one party issues a statement offering voluntary compensation, can they later regret it and demand the compensation back?
    A:A gift made voluntarily by a person with full civil capacity, provided there is no fraud or coercion involved, cannot be unilaterally revoked or withdrawn.
  4. Q: Can I get back the money transferred on occasions like 520 and 1314 if we break up?
    A:For transfers of a specific amount with clear expressions of love, the court generally regards them as general gifts to enhance the relationship, and generally does not support their return after a breakup.
  5. Q: If you buy a house together in a relationship and put the other person's name on the deed, but later break up, how will the property be divided?
    A:It needs to be judged comprehensively based on factors such as the investment amount, registration, and whether the purpose of the investment is for marriage. Large-scale investments in real estate are often regarded as conditional gifts. If the parties are not married, they can claim a refund or compensation.