Categories: Divorce

Should You Serve Your Spouse Divorce Papers on Valentine’s Day?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Absolutely not.

Look, I get it. Maybe your relationship has been circling the drain longer than a suspicious hair in the shower. Maybe you’ve drafted and redrafted those divorce papers so many times that your printer has officially given up. And maybe, just maybe, you thought, Hey, wouldn’t it be poetic to serve these on the one day dedicated to love?

Well, let’s take a deep breath and rethink that.

The Romance Factor (Or Lack Thereof)

Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love, not legal paperwork. While it may be tempting to take a dramatic approach and turn the most romantic day of the year into an ironic statement, consider the optics. Do you really want to forever associate Cupid’s big day with serving legal documents? That’s like ordering a breakup cake with “Be Mine (Just Kidding)” written in frosting.

The Emotional Impact

Sure, your soon-to-be ex may not be your favorite person right now, but there’s no reason to turn a difficult situation into a Shakespearean tragedy. Serving divorce papers on Valentine’s Day is the emotional equivalent of sending someone a bouquet of wilted flowers with a card that says, “It’s not me, it’s definitely you.”

The Legal & Practical Side

Think of your lawyer. Do you really want them telling their colleagues, “Yeah, my client decided today was the best day for this”? No one wants to be that person.

Alternatives That Won’t Make You the Villain

If your relationship is over, it’s over. But you can at least be classy about it. Wait a few days. Serve the papers on a random Tuesday when emotions aren’t heightened by Hallmark-induced expectations. Or, if you’re feeling especially kind, consider breaking the news gently beforethe holiday so no one gets blindsided in the middle of their prix-fixe dinner.

Final Verdict

Divorce is a tough process. Don’t make it tougher by tying it to a day meant for love, overpriced chocolate, and awkward restaurant proposals. Valentine’s Day should be for love—or at least for eating an entire box of chocolates alone while binge-watching rom-coms.

So, put the paperwork down. Pick up some ice cream. And remember, there are 364 other days in the year to make this move—preferably one that won’t also ruin a perfectly good box of chocolates.

Happy Valentine’s Day… or, you know, just February 14th.

Tali Collins

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