Here's what it means that Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on her own without a lawyer
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Following months of conjecture, Jennifer Lopez has officially filed for divorce from Ben Affleck.
Lopez filed for divorce on Tuesday, August 20—the second anniversary of the couple's enchanting Southern wedding in Georgia in 2022. They had legally married in Las Vegas on July 17, 2022.
Meanwhile, legal experts have examined Lopez's unusual divorce application from Affleck, and it indicates that the singer simply wanted to move on and get over the split.
Experts analyze Jennifer Lopez's bizarre divorce filing from Ben Affleck
According to a legal expert, Jennifer Lopez "just wanted to get this done" and move on from her split with Ben Affleck, as seen by her unusual divorce petition.
Lopez, 55, filed for divorce from Affleck, 52, on the same day that marked the former couple's second wedding anniversary, held in Georgia.
The 'On The Floor' singer filed the paperwork on her own, without the assistance of a lawyer, and listed April 26, 2024, as the separation date.
In an interview with People, Marilyn Chinitz, the matrimonial partner at Blank Rome LLP, commented on Lopez's decision to file pro se—that is, without legal representation.
Chinitz said, "I think that she most likely just wanted to get this done, [that] there was a lot of hesitation and hemming and hawing back and forth, and it's a statement, 'I'm moving forward, I'm filing and I'm doing it on my own.'"
According to her, the former couple has most certainly been "probably working with a mediator" during the divorce process.
Unrelated to the case, Chinitz added, "I think it's a real statement from her saying, 'I'm moving forward. Counsel or no counsel on filing'."
Chinitz further stated that it would be "extremely unusual" if the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, as reported by TMZ.
"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 added.
When asked if the divorce is "amicable," Chinitz replied, "I think the next step is to see how he [Affleck] responds, and I think that will give us a clue as to what's going on."
David Glass, a family law attorney in California, also indicated that Lopez and Affleck most likely have a mediator on their side.
"Sometimes when people work with a mediator, they hire a neutral third party, either a retired judge or a very experienced attorney who doesn't represent either of the parties, but it helps them to mediate," Glass said.
He added, "It helps them to figure out how to split everything up. The mediator will prepare the pleadings for them, but they appear pro se like they're filing for themselves. And so that's probably why she's pro se, I don't think she's intending to represent herself or figure it all out."
Jennifer Lopez began house hunting months before the unusual divorce filing
Months before filing for divorce from her estranged husband Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez started searching for a new home. A source revealed that the 'On the Floor' singer began house hunting in April 2024.
Lopez, who officially filed for divorce from the 'Daredevil' actor on August 20, specified in her court filings submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court that their date of separation was April 26, 2024.
The informant spilled to People magazine that Lopez started looking for a residence at about the same time.
Affleck eventually purchased a new home in Los Angeles for $20.5 million on July 24, which coincided with Lopez's birthday, a few months after their separation.
Lopez eventually filed for divorce, with a second source indicating that she felt "done waiting" and that "she tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken." Additionally, another insider revealed that Affleck had no interest in reconciling.
"She's very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn't given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage. 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," the insider said of Lopez.
