Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have officially begun their divorce proceedings, but according to exclusive details, the couple had meticulously planned their split before the formal filing. Sources reveal that Lopez, 55, and Affleck, 52, had already agreed on the terms of their separation prior to her legal action.
The insider disclosed to Us Weekly that Lopez’s decision to file for divorce on August 20, 2024, was a pre-arranged part of their agreement. “They had already agreed to these terms before she filed,” the source explained. “J.Lo finally pulled the trigger because that was their agreement that she would file, and she was the one who ultimately made the decision.”
The primary issue of contention in the divorce appears to be their shared Beverly Hills home, which they bought together in May 2023. The property was listed for sale in early July 2024. “There’s really nothing else to divide,” the insider noted. “One person doesn’t want more than the other. They both came in with significant assets of their own.”
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Lopez’s filing indicates she waived spousal support and requested the court to deny any support to Affleck. The documents, filed pro per (without an attorney), list their separation date as April 26, 2024, and cite irreconcilable differences. Lopez also requested to drop Affleck from her last name.
Although Lopez’s filing does not mention a prenup, celebrity divorce attorney Chris Melcher pointed out that this omission does not imply its absence. “There’s no requirement to mention if you have a prenup or not,” Melcher told Us Weekly. “I wouldn’t take an inference that she has none just because it’s not mentioned.”
The timing of Lopez’s filing is significant, as it coincides with their initial wedding dates. The couple first married in a small ceremony in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, followed by a more elaborate celebration in Georgia on August 20, 2022.
Their relationship had been under scrutiny for months, with reports of their split surfacing earlier in the year. Affleck moved out of their Beverly Hills home shortly before it was put on the market. Despite attempts to work things out, Lopez’s 55th birthday was notably celebrated without Affleck, signaling the end of their reunion.
Lopez and Affleck, who rekindled their romance two decades after their initial engagement, now face the reality of their differences. A source revealed that their extravagant lifestyle, including a $68 million mansion with 24 bathrooms, may have contributed to their issues. “It boiled down to [the fact that] they are two different people,” the source said. “If there was one final straw, it was purchasing their over-the-top mansion.”
Before their reunion, Affleck was previously married to Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children. Lopez has been married three times before, including to Marc Anthony, with whom she shares twins. Their history and past relationships add layers to the complexities of their current situation.
As Lopez and Affleck navigate this new chapter, their carefully planned split appears to be a mutual decision, reflecting their readiness to part ways amicably despite their shared history.
