15 Lawyers Share the Evil Things They’ve Seen Happen in Divorce
Divorce can turn arguments over houses, money, and custody into something much uglier, but some people apparently decide ordinary resentment is not enough. In one Reddit thread, lawyers, legal staff, and people who had watched messy separations up close shared stories of exes destroying sentimental possessions, draining accounts, fighting over things they did not even want, and spending astonishing amounts of money just to make the other person miserable. These are anonymous internet stories, not verified court records, but the sheer creativity involved in some of the alleged revenge is difficult to forget. A few are devastating. Others are so petty they almost become absurd. Here are 15 lawyers sharing the evil things they’ve seen happen in divorce.
Neither Parent Wanted Custody
One commenter recalled a divorce case where the parents fought over their two young children, except each was arguing that the other person should take them.
She Wanted the China Just to Destroy It
A legal assistant said one woman gave up nearly everything for her husband’s beloved family china. Once the divorce was final, she smashed every piece and mailed it back.
He Let the House Foreclose Out of Spite
One commenter said her father deliberately let the family home go into foreclosure after the divorce, knowing the mortgage was still tied to her mother’s credit.
He Drained Every Account
A former bank worker described a stay-at-home mother whose husband emptied their accounts, borrowed against the house, and canceled her credit cards before the divorce was finished.
He Tried to Hide the Money in Gold
One commenter said her ex sold roughly $80,000 in assets and converted the money into gold. Records of the original assets meant the strategy did not work quite as planned.
The Dog Became a Weapon
One spouse reportedly fought aggressively for custody of the family dog despite not liking animals, simply because the pet was the other person’s primary emotional support.
The Divorce Nearly Went to Court Over a Porch Swing
One commenter said her father’s lawyer finally quit after he demanded a hearing over who would keep a porch swing. Apparently, there was a limit to the pettiness.
$100,000 Disappeared Into Legal Fees
A mediator described a woman who received about $100,000 in her divorce, then spent it fighting minor parenting-agreement disputes after her lawyers repeatedly encouraged more conflict.
He Insisted on Keeping All Four Calculators
Not every divorce battle involved houses or savings. One person said her ex-husband insisted on taking all four calculators when they separated in the 1980s.
He Returned the Teapot Without Its Lid
One woman asked for a single sentimental teapot her mother had bought her. Her ex eventually returned it, but without the lid that made it usable.
She Took Every Left Shoe
An attorney said opposing counsel was handling a divorce where the wife had taken all of her husband’s left shoes. It is hard to imagine pettiness getting more specific.
He Tried to Stop Being His Child’s Father
One commenter described a case where a father found a procedural defect in a 12-year-old adoption and petitioned to terminate his own parental responsibilities during the divorce.
He Emptied the Cupboards While They Were at School
One commenter said her father entered the family home while her mother was picking up the children and cleared out the food cupboards during their separation.
Someone Allegedly Planted Fake Messages
A commenter described a custody dispute where one spouse allegedly planted fake messages on an old phone, then tried to use them as evidence against the other parent.
Fake Emails Led to a Month in Jail
A criminal defense lawyer described an ex allegedly creating fake emails that appeared to violate a temporary protection order. The lawyer’s client spent about 30 days in custody before the cases were dismissed.