Divorced mum ordered to pay her ex-husband half the £160,000 cost of his trans surgery in legal first
The furious 60-year-old mum-of-two split from her husband after he revealed he wanted to start hormone therapy in 2022.
The couple, who married in 2002, led a "very international lifestyle living in several countries in different continents and purchasing properties in various countries".
But a judge at Brighton Family Court ruled that splitting the cost of his transition was 'reasonable' because it was a 'need' not a 'whim'.
The wife claimed her husband's decision to transition led to the breakdown of the their marriage.
And so, she said it was unfair for her to pay £80,000 for the procedure.
Her 58-year-old ex claimed his wife "always knew" he was trans, and told the court: 'Denying my request is like saying someone who had cancer should not have the surgery.'
He also claimed he couldn't afford child support - despite blowing £14,000 of shared funds in a single month on 'clothing, nails, jewellery and restaurants.'
In 2024 the husband, who was retraining as a masseuse, splashed £160,000 on the transition – using cash from the couple's £3million joint pot, even though they'd been separated for two years.
The court battle racked up an eye-watering £1million in legal fees.
His ex-wife 'was adamant that she was not aware the respondent wished to transition until the end of the marriage'.
She began divorce proceedings after her husband announced he wanted to live as a lesbian woman instead.
The judge admitted the husband 'showed no understanding' of how his choice affected others - but still ruled the funds must come from shared assets.
He displayed a "striking lack of empathy", the judge said.
The husband had declared: 'You marry a trans person. You live with a trans person. You benefit from a trans person.'
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