Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Announce Their Separation After Finalizing Divorce Settlements

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attended Amazon Studios’ world premiere of “AIR” at Regency Village Theatre on March 27, 2023, in Los Angeles. Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

As of Friday (February 21), Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are officially divorced and legally single. The Los Angeles County Superior Court finalized the dissolution of their marriage, confirming their legal status as singles, according to Associated Press.

The couple reached a divorce settlement on January 6. They successfully avoided lengthy court battles that have plagued other high-profile celebrity divorces by settling through mediation in September.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first began dating in 2002 after meeting on the set of Gigli. They got engaged but called off their wedding in 2004. Nearly two decades later, they rekindled their romance in 2021 and tied the knot in a Georgia ceremony the following year.

Lopez told Billboard in February 2024 that she never thought she would get back together with Affleck. “I just couldnt give up on the idea that there was something amazing out there for me, even when it got really bad and it did at times. I always believed deep down not to give up completely,” she said.

Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck about two years after their Georgia wedding, listing their separation date as April 26, 2024. She cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split.

According to settlement documents obtained by Billboard, the pair agreed on terms to divide their properties and assets. Both waived spousal support and agreed to equally split the legal fees of their negotiation, which was mediated by Laura Wasser. Lopez will also change her legal name back from Jennifer Affleck to Jennifer Lopez.

Lopez has been married four times previouslyfirst to Ojani Noa, then to Cris Judd and Marc Anthony, with whom she shares two children. Ben Affleck is a father of three from his marriage to Jennifer Garner.

In October 2024, Lopez reflected on her feelings about being single again following her split from Affleck. “I think to myself, ‘F, that is exactly what I needed,'” she told Interview. “Thank you, God. Im sorry it took me so long. Im sorry that you had to do this to me so many times. I should have learned it two or three times ago. I get it Im not looking for anybody, because everything that Ive done over the past 25, 30 years, being in these different challenging situations, what can I fing do when its just me flying on my own What if Im just free?”