My daughter was engaged to a man. Without being asked, he did some carpentry work on my house. I told him to give me a bill for his labor (I paid for the materials). He refused and said that he likes to help people. Fourteen months later my daughter called off the wedding and the man sent me a bill. We all live in Virginia. Do I have to pay?

No

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

No

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Thank you, ScottGem.

It was not, despite the title of this thread, a contingent gift. In other words, the work was not free only if, for example, your daughter married him.

Was anything said at the time he did the work which would conflict with the above statement?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AK lawyer

It was not, despite the title of this thread, a contingent gift. In other words, the work was not free only if, for example, your daughter married him.

Was anything said at the time he did the work which would conflict with the above statement?

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There was no suggestion that the free labor was contingent upon the marriage until after the wedding was called off. Then the man claimed his free labor was done in anticipation of me being his father-in-law.
Before he started, while he was working, and after he finished, I told him repeatedly that I was uncomfortable not paying him and asked for a bill. He said he liked helping people, would do the work in his free time, and did not like to be idle.