Garner, Affleck Reportedly Finalizing Divorce, Custody Agreements

It’s been over three years since Hollywood power couple Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their separation after a decade of marriage. When that announcement wasn’t followed by any reported legal action, some fans held out hope that they would reconcile.

In April of last year, however, the two filed divorce petitions simultaneously. Last month, it was reported they were hiring a private judge to help them work out their various legal agreements to finalize the divorce.

The couple is reportedly sharing both legal and physical custody of their three kids, all under 13, and are even seeing a co-parenting therapist. In a custody document the two submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, they outline the behavior they expect of one another when they’re around their kids.

It says, “Each party is restrained from arguing, yelling, or using profanity directed at the other party in the presence or within hearing distance of any of the minor children.” It also states, “Neither party shall make derogatory or insulting remarks about the other.”

While documents filed with the court have made their way into the media, by hiring a private judge to finalize the end of the marriage, they can likely now expect more privacy. More couples are using private judges to speed up their divorces and keep them out of the public eye — not just here in California, but all over the country.

While a private judge will cost more than going through the court system, you don’t need to have a movie star’s income to afford them. Your California family law attorney can review the various options, including private judges, for settling your divorce in a timely, amicable fashion.