As a family lawyer who deals with same sex and opposite sex partners, I help men and women who have left their spouse to enter into a same sex relationship.  In some cases, the aggrieved spouse had no idea and was particularly hurt by the circumstances.  In other cases, the spouse was aware of their partner’s sexuality and accepted that they could not live together as friends any more. 

Financier, Pierre Lagrange, and his wife Catherine are a prime example.  Their divorce has made the headlines as he is worth an estimated £331 million and their divorce settlement could represent one of the largest in England – he is certainly one of the wealthiest men in the country.  He is now dating the male haute couture designer Roubi L’Roubi and the couple were photographed arm in arm at this summer’s Venice Biennale.  Thankfully, for the sake of Mr and Mrs Lagrange’s three children, Mr and Mrs Lagrange are parting amicably.  Mr Lagrange has been quoted as saying  “I only met Roubi long after our divorce decision….Our divorce has been the most amicable one, with love and respect from all parties”.

As to the legal ramifications of leaving your wife for another man, bizarrely, sex with a member of the same sex does not constitute adultery for the purposes of a divorce.  (Even more bizarrely, adultery is not one of the grounds under which the court can dissolve a Civil Partnership!)  An intimate relationship can be used as an unreasonable behaviour for the purpose of the divorce.  Either way, it is important that anyone facing this situation obtains legal advice at an early stage.  A good divorce lawyer should not only protect your position but strive to take the heat out of the situation to enable an early settlement of all issues surrounding the divorce.