On Tuesday, Jennifer Lopez broke our hearts by filing for divorce from Ben Affleck, her husband of two years. According to TMZ, Lopez filed her divorce papers in LA, listing their separation date as April 26th.
The filing follows months of speculation that the couple’s relationship was on the rocks since Lopez attended the Met Gala alone in May. Since then, Affleck has been absent from both her Atlas film premieres and the singer’s 55th birthday (Lopez returned the favour and sat out on Affleck’s earlier this month).
Several unusual details in the divorce filing have raised commentary from experts and sources. In some instances, there are more questions than answers.
Jennifer Lopez Is Heartbroken
The most unsurprising news? Lopez is heartbroken. The actor and singer has worn her heart on her sleeve when discussing her relationship with Affleck over the years. In an interview with Apple Music 1, journalist Zane Low Lopez referred to Affleck as “the love of my life” and reflected on their first breakup, recounting, “Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I honestly felt like I was going to die.” Saying it sent her into a spiral for the next 18 years. Of their reunion, she said: “The most amazing., incredible, unbelievable thing has happened.”
According to reports, while Lopez filed for divorce, she was left heartbroken. A source told People, “She tried hard to make things work and is heartbroken… The kids are top priority, as they have always been.”
Meanwhile, The Daily Mail reported that the star had only filed for divorce because she had lost faith in Affleck’s commitment to the relationship. “Jennifer said she was tired of being humiliated by Ben.”
Lopez’s divorce filing contains several unusual components. Here are some of the strange details that have emerged so far.
Lopez Filed Without An Attorney
Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck without using a lawyer; according to experts, this could be interpreted as a statement.
Marilyn CHinitz, a matrimonial partner at Blank Rome LLP, told people that the decision to file without counsel is unusual. “I think that she most likely wanted to get this done,” Chinitz speculated, referring to the stop-start nature of the couple’s last few months. “It’s a statement. I’m moving forward. I’m filing, and I’m doing it on my own.”
Lopez Filed On The Date Of Their Wedding Anniversary
While Lopez listed their separation date as April 26th, she waited until August 20th to file for divorce. This happens to be the date of the couple’s second, more formal wedding that took place in Georgia two years ago. A source told The Daily Mail that Lopez had made an intentional choice. “Jennifer was tired of being humiliated by Ben, and she waited until the two-year anniversary because she wanted to sting.” Affleck’s absence at important events and inconsistent behaviour are consistent in rumours about their relationship.
He’s been spotted intermittently wearing and not wearing his wedding ring in public and sat out multiple public events where Lopez might expect his support, including the Met Gala, which she hosted and two of her film premieres. He, of course, was also absent from her birthday. A source told People that Lopez had given up hopes of reconciling because Affleck hadn’t shown signs of wanting to improve the relationship. “She’s very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage,” the source said, “He hasn’t shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work. It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself.”
If she was hoping the filing date would cause Affleck consternation, it hasn’t seemed to. The Daily Mail’s source said, “It did not sting him. He’s been done for a long time, and deep down, she knows this.”
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Did Not Have A Prenup
Given Jennifer Lopez is worth an estimated $ 400 million and Ben Affleck is worth an estimated $ 150 million, it would be normal to expect a prenuptial agreement. But, Affleck and Lopez did not have one in place. “The only time that you see people not having a prenup is when they’ve put most of their assets in trust for their children, and those trusts have been established, and they wouldn’t be part of the community property,” Chinitz said to People. Lopez and Affleck don’t share children. Lopez has twins Max and Emme, 16, from her previous relationship with American singer-songwriter Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15 and Samuel, 12, from his marriage to American actor Jennifer Garner.
While there will be no custody or inheritance disputes, the absence of a prenup could complicate things.
What Does No Prenuptial Agreement Mean For Their Divorce?
Los Angeles family law attorney Roz Soudry expressed surprise that there was no prenup. “I would think their business managers, their accountants, their attorneys would’ve insisted on one,” he told NBC News. California law dictates that anything acquired during a marriage, from property to earnings, should be split evenly following a couple’s separation.
Los Angeles divorce attorney Christopher C. Melcher added that given the couple’s shared careers, the division of assets could be further complicated by complicated revenue streams from sources like intellectual property and business holdings. He pointed to the example of Star Trek writer Gene Roddenberry, who separated from his wife in 1969 before Star Trek became a hit. When it became a multi-million dollar franchise, his ex-wife went to court years later for a share of the profits.
With both Affleck and Lopez are currently engaged in projects, revenue from these projects could fall under “community property.” The issue of the prenup will come down to goodwill on behalf of both parties. Ashley Silberfeld, another family law lawyer, said: “They seem to have, from what we can tell, maintained some level of cordiality during all of this time, so that’s a possibility.”
Ben Affleck Was Dropping His Daughter Off At Yale When Lopez Filed For Divorce
Ben Affleck was pretty busy the day his soon-to-be ex-wife filed for divorce. According to E!News, the actor was with ex-wife, Jennifer Garner dropping their daughter off at Yale University in Connecticut. In July, a source told Entertainment Tonight that J.Lo and Violet had developed a close relationship. Despite the obvious challenges, Affleck and Lopez hoped to maintain the positive relationships they’d built as a family.
“Ben certainly doesn’t want to cause any strain between Jen and Violet, and he is in support of them spending time together,” the source added, “It’s a little tricky for him, but both Jen and Ben want all their kids to be happy, regardless of the issues that they’re facing in their marriage.”
Affleck and Lopez Were Both Photographed On The Day Of Their Separation
In a sad twist, Affleck and Lopez were both photographed separately on the day Lopez listed as their formal separation, 26th of April.
In images shared by TMZ, J.Lo looked chic in oversized boyfriend jeans, platform slides, and her signature Hermes Kelly bag in New York. Meanwhile, Affleck was on the other side of the country, looking grim as he headed to his Beverly Hills office late at night in a grey puffer jacket and jeans.
With so many details left dangling and Affleck still waiting to respond to the filing, it’s difficult to know which way the divorce will go for everybody’s favourite on-again-off-again Hollywood couple. Stay tuned.
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This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
