The Hollywood power couple’s marriage has taken a dramatic turn as one partner files for divorce without an attorney.
Jennifer “JLo” Lopez has officially filed for divorce from Ben Affleck after more than two years of marriage. She submitted the paperwork to the Los Angeles County Superior Court on a symbolic date—exactly two years after their second grand wedding ceremony.
According to TMZ, the couple’s separation date is listed as April 26, 2024, and further details offer a fresh perspective on their unexpected split.
#JLo has filed for divorce from #BenAffleck 💔 pic.twitter.com/NYYAlsjuz6
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 20, 2024
JLo’s Divorce Filing Comes on the Anniversary of Their Georgia Wedding
JLo reportedly filed for divorce on August 20, the same day as their Georgia wedding anniversary, adding a bittersweet note to their split. The couple rekindled their romance in 2021 and got engaged in April 2022.
After getting engaged, they had a surprise Las Vegas wedding on July 16, 2022. A month later, they celebrated with a larger ceremony at Ben’s Georgia estate. In her On the JLo newsletter, JLo described the day as “full-circle” and “better” than expected.
“Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.”
Jennifer Lopez confirmed that she & Ben Affleck eloped in Vegas in her On the JLo newsletter. She signed the message “Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.” 🥰
Read more: https://t.co/B5Q8DuiUDA pic.twitter.com/Ujl4gtxYc4
— ExtraTV (@extratv) July 17, 2022
The ceremony was personal, with the couple walking down the aisle to “True Companion” by Marc Cohn. JLo wore three custom wedding dresses: a turtleneck gown, a mermaid silhouette, and a chandelier pearl gown, which she called “dreamy.”
Bride and groom #JenniferLopez and #BenAffleck, both dressed in custom Ralph Lauren, celebrated their marriage in the company of friends and family#JLo pic.twitter.com/o80CTvF0TX
— Ralph Lauren (@RalphLauren) September 2, 2022
JLo Filed the Divorce Documents Herself
In a surprising move, JLo filed the divorce documents without a lawyer. This approach, known as filing “pro per,” suggests she wants to handle the process independently. She also waived her right to spousal support and asked that the court deny Ben any support as well.
Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Have No Prenuptial Agreement
TMZ also reported that the divorce documents show JLo and Ben did not have a prenuptial agreement. Despite their previous marriages and significant wealth, they didn’t protect their finances.
As a result, any earnings or profits made during the couple’s nearly two years of marriage will be treated as community property. A legal source has clarified this matter.
Marilyn Chinitz, a divorce lawyer at Blank Rome LLP, commented that JLo’s decision to proceed with the divorce, even without legal representation, sends a clear message of determination, calling it her “real statement” of moving forward.
She also stated that it would be “extremely unusual” for the couple not to have a prenuptial agreement. 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 explained.
Bennifer Are Still Hashing Out the Sale of Their Marital Home
Although JLo has filed for divorce, their financial settlement remains unresolved. The couple’s Beverly Hills home is on the market, but negotiations have reportedly become tense. JLo and Ben are searching for new homes, signaling the end of their shared life together.
JLo and Ben first became a media sensation in the early 2000s when their relationship, known as “Bennifer,” grabbed headlines. They got engaged and starred together in “Gigli” (2003) and “Jersey Girl” (2004), but their romance ended before “Jersey Girl” was released.
Over the next 20 years, both married other people—JLo with Marc Anthony and Ben with Jennifer Garner—but they reunited three years ago. Since then, they often appeared together at public events, promoting each other’s projects. Ben even appeared in JLo’s Amazon Prime Video special, “This Is Me … Now: A Love Story.”
JLo’s latest album, “This Is Me … Now,” revisits themes from her 2002 album, “This Is Me … Then,” which was inspired by her first relationship with Ben Fans followed their love story through JLo’s social media and newsletter updates.
All of my albums are very special to me, but This Is Me…Then is my favorite album I’ve ever done…so far! In honor of my #JLovers helping it re-enter the album charts AGAIN after 19 years…here is a lil #TBT ✨💕 https://t.co/ODNwAMtTqr pic.twitter.com/cJcnQqUG6p
— jlo (@JLo) May 14, 2021
However, in May, JLo unexpectedly canceled her summer tour, saying she needed time with her family—a decision that hinted at the couple’s split and eventual divorce.
JLo and Ben’s divorce comes after the pop singer grabbed attention by attending a Bruno Mars concert in Los Angeles on Ben’s birthday on August 15. This sparked online debate about whether she was masking her true feelings amid the the couple’s marital woes.
A video shared on Instagram by artist Tetris showed JLo, dressed in a white sleeveless top and jeans, dancing energetically—swaying her head and raising her hands as she moved her body from left to right—to the song “Marry You.”
Although JLo appeared to be enjoying herself, the clip quickly attracted attention, with netizens questioning the authenticity of her emotional state. A user observed that she was “Trying too hard to look happy.”
Another critic pointed out, “She knew that she will be videotaped. This is too hard seeking attention, even for JLo [sic],” while another added, “55 acting like she’s 25. 🙄🙄”
Someone else speculated that JLo’s behavior might have contributed to her and Ben’s marital woes, “Calm down Jen. It doesn’t always have to be a show… That may be the reason for your relationship demise 🤷♀️.” Not everyone was critical, though.
Some fans defended JLo, saying she was just enjoying her single life. One fan noted that she looked like anyone else who loves music and suggested that Ben not being musically inclined, might not have enjoyed attending concerts with her.
Supporters encouraged JLo to live life on her own terms, expressing happiness that she was enjoying herself. One fan urged her to “be happy” with or without Ben, while another praised her for dancing and having fun.
Another fan celebrated JLo’s happiness, stating that life goes on and that she has plenty to celebrate without being defined by a man.
JLo further fueled the online conversation by sharing photos and videos from the concert on her Twitter account. In one post, she posed with two companions, wearing large sunglasses and flashy jewelry, including a necklace with her name as a pendant.
The actress also shared a video explaining to her social media followers how she drinks from a bottle. “See how I do this when I drink from the bottle, very demure,” she playfully said before taking a sip. “Very mindful,” she added.
She also explained that she doesn’t chug her drink all at once but prefers to take small sips. “Just little. Little by little. Very elegant. Swelling it. Demure. Mindful [sic],” she shared, before walking off-camera.
About Last Night ✨ @BrunoMars pic.twitter.com/IVh4SpxjjL
— jlo (@JLo) August 17, 2024
Despite the buzz surrounding her concert appearance, JLo did make time to visit Ben on his 52nd birthday. She was seen leaving his rental home in Brentwood earlier that day, dressed casually in a brown jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers. She quietly exited the house and climbed into a large black vehicle.
Jennifer Lopez visits Ben Affleck’s rental on his 52nd birthday after snubbing him on social media https://t.co/2uee9a0qSa pic.twitter.com/gMFzRKWbyt
— Page Six (@PageSix) August 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Ben’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, had also visited his rental home just hours earlier. She left in a sleek BMW, wearing a striped white T-shirt, navy trousers, and glasses, along with simple jewelry, including silver earrings and an Apple Watch.
Jennifer Garner visits ex Ben Affleck on his birthday while Jennifer Lopez gushes over her own big day https://t.co/bB3hYoWNxk pic.twitter.com/BeIogVjCte
— Page Six (@PageSix) August 15, 2024
Jennifer and Ben, who divorced in 2018, continue to co-parent their children—Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12—with a mature and friendly relationship.
Similarly, Jennifer Lopez’s solo divorce filing from Ben on their anniversary highlights her desire for independence. The absence of a prenuptial agreement adds to the public intrigue, revealing the complexities of their high-profile separation.
