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There's No Bennifer Prenup, So WTF Happens Now? An Investigation

After Jennifer Lopez made a chaotic musical movie about her marriage to Ben Affleck, a documentary about making that movie, and an album chronicling their relationship, she filed for divorce on August 20. I feel for her ’cause leaving a marriage that was your whole brand has to be pretty rough. The news isn’t shocking, considering we’ve all suspected this split since May when J. Lo attended the Met Gala solo. You may recall that at the time, she was also spotted house hunting, sources began to hint at marital problems, and she and Ben went seven weeks without being seen together.

But Jennifer made things official when she filed the legal docs by herself in L.A. County Superior Court on Tuesday. According to TMZ, she “waived spousal support and is asking the judge to deny Ben such support as well.” (Spousal support is court ordered payment from one spouse to another during divorce proceedings.) Notably, these former star-crossed lovers failed to make a prenup… they obviously did not expect their epic love story to end this way.

So, what the fuck happens now? Here’s a breakdown of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s no prenup situation.

J. Lo And Ben Affleck: What Happens Now?

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Didn’t Make A Prenup

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Image Credit: Getty

TMZ reported that there is “no prenuptial agreement,” which means all of J. Lo and Ben’s earnings and shared assets from their nearly two years of marriage is now considered “community property.” This includes the money J. Lo made from her recent movies, Atlas, Shotgun Wedding, and The Mother, as well as Ben’s earnings from Air and The Instigators. Not to mention, the actors bought a $60 million home in May 2023, which they’re selling for $68 million. They listed the mansion on July 11, 2024 and haven’t secured a buyer as of now.

Settlement negotiations have not exactly been going smoothly, per TMZ. The outlet reports that J. Lo and Ben have been “trying to hash out a settlement for months” and the conflict has become “increasingly acrimonious” to the point where they have stopped communicating altogether at times. That being said, the “Let’s Get Loud” singer did just stop by Ben’s home on August 15, his birthday, so perhaps they’re on okay terms these days.

It will probably be a while before the division of their shared assets is totally worked out.

What Have Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Said About Their Divorce?

Jennifer and Ben have not shared any statements confirming their split yet. When breakup rumors were swirling back in May, a reporter at a Mexico City press conference for Atlas bluntly asked J. Lo if the rumors were true. She looked uncomfortable, fake laughed, and then replied, “You know better than that.”

That same month, the actress cancelled her This Is Me… Now tour. At the time, representatives for Live Nation said she was “taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends.” In an emotional statement to fans, J. Lo wrote, “Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary.”

We’ll have to wait and see what she and Ben choose to share about their breakup. For now, I’m wishing them well ❤️.

Ilana Frost
Ilana Frost is an entertainment writer at Betches. As a teenage girl in her twenties, she spends her time stanning Olivia Rodrigo, baking cakes for award shows, and refusing to ever leave her Reputation era.