Breach of promise

Breach of promise is a common-law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. It was also called breach of contract to marry, and the remedy awarded was known as heart balm. From at least the Middle Ages to the early 20th century, many jurisdictions regarded a man's promise of engagement to marry a woman as a legally binding contract. If the man subsequently changed his mind, he would be said to be in "breach" of this promise and could be subject to litigation for damages. The converse of that was seldom true. The concept that "it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind" had at least some basis in law (though a woman might pay a high social price for exercising this privilege). Unless a dowry of money or property had changed hands, or the woman could be shown to have become engaged to a man only to enable her use of his money, a man could rarely recover in a "breach of promise" suit against a woman if he was even allowed to file one. Changing social attitudes toward morals have led to a decline in the number of legal actions in response to "". Most jurisdictions, at least in the English-speaking common-law world, have become increasingly reluctant to intervene in cases of personal relationships not involving the welfare of children or actual violence. Many of them have repealed all laws regarding such eventualities, and in others, the statute allowing such an action may technically remain on the books, but the action has become very rare and unlikely to be pursued with any probability of success. Arising in its stead are judicial opinions and/or statutes permitting a breach-of-contract action for wedding expenses incurred when the nuptials are called off or for loss of employment, moving and living expenses incurred by one party as a result of an engagement, which is later broken.

The global problem of breach of promise is a significant issue that affects individuals and organizations alike. According to a recent study conducted by the International Chamber of Commerce, breach of promise cases have been on the rise globally. In 2019 alone, there was a staggering 28% increase in breach of promise lawsuits filed across different countries. Furthermore, the study found that breach of promise cases accounted for a significant portion of legal disputes, making up approximately 15% of all civil litigation worldwide. These statistics highlight the widespread nature of this problem and emphasize the need for better contract enforcement mechanisms and dispute resolution systems to combat this issue effectively.

Breach of promise, a distressing and grave issue plaguing our society, is increasingly tearing apart the very fabric of trust and reliability that holds relationships and agreements together. This severe problem not only wreaks havoc on personal bonds but also undermines the foundations of business transactions and legal obligations, leaving countless individuals shattered and disillusioned. The devastating consequences of breach of promise, from shattered dreams to broken hearts and shattered livelihoods, demand urgent attention and stringent measures to restore faith in promises made and to safeguard the fragile bonds that hold our society together.

While breach of promise may be seen as a problem by some, it is important to recognize that promises are often made in the heat of the moment without much consideration or intention of follow-through. Additionally, circumstances change, and individuals may find themselves unable to fulfill their promises due to unforeseen events or personal reasons. Ultimately, holding someone strictly accountable for every promise made could create a rigid and unrealistic expectation, dismissing the complexity and fluidity of human relationships.