Jennifer Lopez made a daring — and certain strategic — transfer when she filed for divorce from Ben Affleck with out utilizing a lawyer.
“She in all probability is sending a message that there’s not going to be a struggle,” movie star divorce legal professional Chris Melcher solely advised Us Weekly on Wednesday, August 21, of Lopez’s determination.
Melcher, who’s a associate with the California authorized agency Walzer Melcher & Yoda and isn’t concerned within the case, revealed it was the “first time” he’s seen a “excessive profile individual” like Lopez, 55, file for divorce and never checklist an legal professional of document.
“I imagine that that is intentional to ship a message that this won’t be a struggle,” he reiterated, noting that in California divorce proceedings are public document, so if Lopez and Affleck, 55, do find yourself in a prolonged court docket battle, it could be thrust into the highlight.
The phrase “Bennifer” may embrace flashbacks to frosted lip gloss and butterfly clips, however all the things comes again in type ultimately. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez obtained again collectively practically 20 years after their romance first took the world by storm. The pair first linked in 2002 on the set of the ill-fated Gigli. The film […]
Melcher advised that it could be “poisonous to their model in the event that they have been to struggle in court docket,” which is why the lawyer believes that Lopez and Affleck would have already “labored out most of those points earlier than going public with the submitting.”
“This might be step one that we’re seeing as the general public, [but it] may truly be one of many last levels of their divorce settlement,” he continued, explaining that though Lopez filed with out authorized help, she almost definitely had assist from an legal professional alongside the way in which.
Lopez and Affleck wed in July 2022 after rekindling their romance one 12 months prior. The pair have been beforehand engaged within the early 2000s earlier than getting married to different individuals and welcoming kids. (Lopez shares twins Max and Emme, 16, with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Affleck, in the meantime, shares Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.)
Earlier this 12 months, Affleck and Lopez sparked break up hypothesis after eagle-eyed followers observed they hadn’t been seen collectively in 47 days. Us confirmed in Might that Affleck had moved out of their joint Beverly Hills mansion. Affleck later bought a brand new home in Los Angeles with out Lopez and the duo didn’t rejoice their anniversary collectively final month.
Us confirmed on Tuesday, August 20, that Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles, handing the paperwork in herself as a substitute of utilizing counsel as is the standard strategy.
Whereas Lopez listed the date of separation as April 26, she waited till the two-year anniversary of her and Affleck’s Georgia wedding ceremony to file. (The singer and the actor quietly wed in Las Vegas in July 2022 earlier than throwing a bigger wedding ceremony for family and friends in August 2022.)
“The timing of the divorce was a giant f—okay you to Ben,” a supply solely advised Us after Lopez selected to sever ties with Affleck.
Melcher, nonetheless, advised Us on Wednesday that Lopez submitting first doesn’t give her a lot of a bonus within the divorce. The “slight” leg up she acquired could be pegged to the “management of the pace of the case.”
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are formally divorcing however their skilled lives will stay entwined. Lopez, 55, is starring within the upcoming movie Unstoppable, an Amazon MGM Studios undertaking produced by Affleck’s manufacturing firm, Artists Fairness. Filming on Unstoppable wrapped in January however the film, directed by William Goldenberg who beforehand labored as an editor […]
The lawyer defined that if there have been a trial, Lopez would get to talk first since she filed earlier than Affleck. “The actual good thing about submitting first is to attempt to take the initiative and make it appear like Jennifer’s the one who’s deciding to finish the wedding,” Melcher continued. “However virtually talking, there can solely be one petitioner and one respondent. So there is no such thing as a such factor as a co submitting of divorce.”
Melcher famous that within the case of Lopez vs. Affleck, “The attorneys and the accountants could be within the background to help the social gathering in resolving all the things, and the ultimate step is submitting for a divorce in these conditions, as a result of solely a choose can terminate the advantage.”
He surmised that the actors “in all probability already agreed on the division of briefing that they’ve, and we’ll see them present up someday down the street with an agreed judgment of divorce.”
With reporting by Sarah Jones
