Ben & Jen Divorce – A Rhyme Tragedy
In what seems to be an offbeat reflection of the setting of Gone Girl, star of the movie Ben Affleck and his 10-year wife Jennifer Garner announced on June 30 that their relationship is done. The good news is that Garner seems to have no intention of actually becoming the “Gone Girl.” Fans of the movie can rest easy – she probably won’t stab real-life Neil Patrick Harris to death. But anyways.
The split, obviously, is sad times for the two celebs and their children (Samuel, Seraphina, and Violet – 3, 6, and 9, respectively). Considering Ben’s recent theatrical success, it kind of makes sense that Ben-Jen felt strain in their relationship – SOMEONE has to take care of their three kids. Turns out, that’s why we haven’t seen much of Jen in the movies, despite there being plenty of Ben. She said something along those lines earlier this year, “Ben is super busy and I’m super happy for him. I chose to stay home this year and just said, ‘Go for it, babe. Do it all.'”
The Legal Scramble Begins
An optimistic take on the situation might bring up the fact that they made it together for a whole decade, which is pretty impressive for a Hollywood couple. California divorce legislation thinks that ten years is a long time, too. The fact that Ben-Jen lasted even one day over their anniversary means that their relationship is legally defined as a “long-duration” marriage. This is a milestone for alimony reasons. The spouse who makes less money in a divorce is likely to receive alimony, and long-duration marriages pretty much guarantees more of it.
So who’s who in this couple? Bad luck for Ben: his apparent $75 million fortune makes him the “more advantaged spouse.” Looks like he’ll be the one making the fat, celebrity-tier alimony payments. If the divorce was his idea, he’s probably feeling a little regretful about his timing. Still, nothing is certain in these types of cases. When long-duration marriages end, judges have the power to adjust alimony and child support accordingly, depending on the situation.
Longer Duration Marriages In Tennessee
Tennessee’s divorce law has similar stipulations about alimony. However, long-duration marriages in this state are a little… longer. California’s 10-year qualification is doubled in Tennessee – excepting unusual circumstances, a couple must be together for at least 20 years before the less-advantaged spouse is guaranteed a greater alimony award on grounds of marriage duration. Ben would maybe be in less danger of paying egregious sums to his future ex-wife if they lived in Tennessee. But that’s a pretty big “if.”
Robert J. Turner & Associates understands the complexities of Tennessee’s divorce legislation. We’ve successfully helped numerous clients that have faced problems that, at first, seemed insurmountable. Our attorneys are more than happy to meet with you and answer your every question, and to help find a solution that works for you. Contact our offices today, or go online to set up your Free Initial Consultation.
