Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have officially called it quits, marking the end of their high-profile relationship. As they go through the divorce process, Jennifer Lopez is taking steps to remove Affleck from her last name. While the world knows her as JLo, legally, she became Jennifer Lynn Affleck after her 2022 marriage to Ben Affleck. However, as court documents obtained by Us Weekly and TMZ revealed on Thursday, Lopez has now made a formal request to revert to her maiden name, Jennifer Lynn Lopez. The court documents also highlight the reasons behind the split. Lopez cited “irreconcilable differences as the cause of their separation.”
Lopez reportedly also said that neither she nor Affleck should be given spousal support. Instead, the couple intends to separate their assets and debts, as outlined in the legal paperwork. However, the documents also indicate that the “exact nature and extent” of their shared property remains unclear and will need to be determined at a later date.
According to Elle magazine, Ben Affleck spent most of his summer on the West Coast this year, while Jennifer Lopez chose to retreat to the Hamptons.
On May 14, just a few weeks after their official separation date of April 26, as mentioned in the divorce filings, TMZ reported that Lopez was already house-hunting on her own. Meanwhile, in July, Affleck purchased a new home in Los Angeles, as reported by People.
Throughout the year, the couple was rarely seen together, fueling speculation about the state of their relationship. Lopez’s 55th birthday, which she celebrated with an extravagant Bridgerton-themed party in the Hamptons saw Ben Affleck’s absence, raising eyebrows and confirming that the couple was indeed drifting apart. A source close to Lopez told People, “She tried really hard to make things work, and is heartbroken.”’
The source also reiterated that their children remain a top priority for both Lopez and Affleck, as they have always been. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had been dating since 2002 and got engaged for a short while but called it off in 2004. Later, Affleck got married to Jennifer Garner and Lopez exchanged vows with Marc Anthony (2004–2014).
After years of their first breakup, the duo rekindled their romance in 2021. They exchanged vows in Las Vegas in 2022 and now, have filed for a divorce in January this year.
