Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on Tuesday without legal representation. Joe and Cheryl Dillon, relationship experts at Equitable Mediation, explained in an interview with The Mirror that divorces in the US do not require a lawyer. They mentioned that Jennifer may not have opted for legal representation because there was nothing to fight over. In another report from PEOPLE, spouse Marilyn Chinitz said that the Atlas actor just wanted to get it over with. (Also Read: Jennifer Lopez’s Ex-Fiancé Alex Rodriguez Shares Cryptic Message on Instagram After Bennifer Divorce)
Jennifer had “nothing to argue about” the separation from Ben
Joe and Cheryl, reflecting on Jennifer’s separation from Ben, pointed out, “What most people don’t realize is that in the United States, you don’t need a lawyer to get a divorce. Certainly some people prefer to use a lawyer, but there are other options without a lawyer. There may not be much to argue about, and so Jennifer may not have felt the need for further legal representation. If there are any issues that need to be resolved, that could be done with the help of a neutral mediator.”
They continued, “Of course, after the mediator helps them negotiate a settlement, they could have their respective attorneys review it. Perhaps Jennifer simply did not feel the need to involve attorneys. That is her decision.”
Jennifer Lopez wanted to do it alone
Speaking to PEOPLE, Marilyn Chinitz, a partner at Blank Rome LLP, spoke about Jennifer’s decision to file for divorce without legal representation, which is known as “pro se”: “I think that she most likely just wanted to get this over with, that there was a lot of hesitation and back and forth, and that this is a statement of, ‘I’m going ahead, I’m filing for divorce, and I’m doing it on my own.'”
Relationship history of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Jennifer and Ben rekindled their romance in 2021 and tied the knot in a private wedding in Las Vegas in July 2022. They held a second wedding ceremony in Georgia in August 2022. The Atlas actor filed for divorce on their second wedding anniversary. Jennifer’s love story with Ben began over 20 years ago when the two first started dating in 2002, got engaged that same year, and then split for the first time in 2004.
Jennifer stated in her petition filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court that the separation date is April 26, 2024. Apparently, the ex-couple spent the summer apart.
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