Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Divorce: Inside Their Planned Split
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had reached an agreement on the terms of their divorce before she filed the paperwork, a source close to the couple reveals. The split, which was reportedly planned, comes after two years of marriage.
The insider explains that the couple had already ironed out the details of their separation, including the division of their assets. One of the biggest challenges they faced was the sale of their shared Beverly Hills home, which they listed for sale in early July.
Lopez, 55, filed for divorce on Tuesday, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. She waived spousal support and asked the judge to deny Affleck support. According to documents obtained, Lopez filed pro per, meaning she represented herself without an attorney, and listed their date of separation as April 26, 2024.
Celebrity divorce attorney Chris Melcher notes that the absence of a prenuptial agreement in the filing does not necessarily mean the couple didn’t have one in place. “There’s no requirement to mention if you have a prenup or not,” Melcher explains. “I wouldn’t take an inference that she has none just because it’s not mentioned.”
The date Lopez chose to file for divorce is significant, as it coincides with their one-year anniversary of their second wedding ceremony, which took place on August 20, 2022.
Reports of the couple’s relationship troubles had been circulating for months, with sources revealing that they had been living separate lives. In May, Affleck, 52, moved out of their shared home, and the couple listed it for sale shortly after. Neither Lopez nor Affleck publicly acknowledged their second wedding anniversary that month.
A source close to the couple revealed that Lopez had suggested they take time to figure things out, but ultimately, it became clear that they were not a good match. “It boiled down to [the fact that] they are two different people,” the source said.
Lopez and Affleck have a long history, having been previously engaged from 2002 to 2004. They reconnected two decades later, but it appears that their rekindled romance was not meant to be.
Prior to their rekindling, Affleck was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, and they share three children. Lopez has been married three previous times and was also engaged to Alex Rodriguez between 2019 and 2021.