The recent news that Hollywood actress Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck dominated tabloid headlines. After spending the past few months trying to save their crumbling marriage, the couple is now separating. According to PEOPLE’s sources, Lopez “just wanted to put this behind her” and move forward, a legal expert told PEOPLE.
On August 20, Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck in Los Angeles County Superior Court without legal representation, listing the separation date as April 26, 2024. The couple originally married on July 16, 2022, in Las Vegas, and August 20 was the second anniversary of their traditional wedding ceremony in Georgia.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Marilyn Chinitz, a marriage counsel at Blank Rome LLP, discussed Jennifer Lopez’s decision to file for divorce without legal representation, a process known as “pro se.” Chinitz explained that this decision was likely driven by Lopez’s desire to close this chapter of her life as quickly as possible.
“I think she most likely just wanted to get this over with. There was a lot of hesitation and back and forth, and it’s a statement of, ‘I’m going to go ahead, I’m going to file the paperwork, and I’m going to do it on my own,'” Chinitz added.
Chinitz, who is unrelated to the case, also said it would be “very unusual” if the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, TMZ reported.
“The only cases where people don’t have a prenuptial agreement are when they’ve already put the majority of their assets into a trust for their children. So those assets wouldn’t be considered community property,” Chinitz told PEOPLE.
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The next step will be to see how Affleck responds to all of these allegations. Additionally, California-based family law attorney David Glass told PEOPLE that Lopez and Affleck are likely working with a mediator.
Glass explained the concept in plain language, adding, “Sometimes people who work with a mediator hire a neutral third party – either a retired judge or a very experienced lawyer – who does not represent either party but helps them with the mediation.”
The former couple have a blended family that includes 16-year-old twins Max and Emme, whom Lopez has with ex-husband Marc Anthony, as well as 18-year-old Violet, 15-year-old Seraphina and 12-year-old Samuel, the children Affleck has with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
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