Denounce former wife before end of divorce case (8)
I believe the answer is:
execrate
'denounce' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'former wife before end of divorce case' is the wordplay.
'former wife' becomes 'ex'.
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'end of' says to take the final letters.
'case' becomes 'crate' (I've seen this before**).
The last letter of 'divorce' is 'e'.
'ex'+'e'+'crate'='EXECRATE'
(Other definitions for execrate that I've seen before include "Feel great loathing for" , "Utter curses with erect axe" , "Express hatred for" , "Deplore and detest" , "Utter curses upon, detest greatly" .)