Case STudy
Stories that stay with me
marriage dissolution
A Quiet Act of Courage
One of the more memorable cases in my process-serving career involved a woman I’ll call M. She had endured a long, abusive relationship and was finally ready to take the formal step of dissolving the marriage. Her courage in doing so was palpable—and humbling.
M confided that her ex-partner was known to have ties to gangs and was believed to be using drugs. Understandably, she was concerned—not just for herself, but for my safety as well. Her worry was sincere, and her relief when I assured her I could handle it was something I won’t forget.
With caution and care, I approached the situation discreetly. The service was completed without incident, and when I let M know it was done, the sense of relief in her response was profound. That moment reminded me why I do this work—not just to deliver documents, but to provide peace of mind in what are often emotionally charged and difficult circumstances.
You Never Know What Will Happen in This Job
After more than 20 years of separation, a lady I’ll call ‘J’ decided it was finally time to make things official and file for divorce. Understandably, she was anxious. There had been no contact with her ex-husband in years, and she wasn’t sure how he’d react to suddenly being served with legal papers.
When I arrived to deliver the documents, I braced for a range of possibilities—but what happened next surprised us both. When I explained the nature of my visit her ex-husband greeted me with a grin, shook my hand firmly, and exclaimed that he was off to celebrate. He’d been waiting for this day too, it seemed.
Moments like these are a reminder that in this line of work, you truly never know what you’re walking into—but sometimes, things turn out easier than anyone expected.
