The promise to marry: traditional and legal regulation in Russia and European countries

The article explores the issues of traditional and legal regulation of relations arising from the rejection of a previously expressed intention to contract a marriage. The author analyzes the institution of engagement in the legislation of foreign countries. The current Russian legislation does not allow to protect the property rights of a bona fide party in due measure if the other party refuses to enter into marriage. The author made a conclusion about the possibility of legal regulation of actions preceding marriage and proposed appropriate changes in the legislation.