Almost three months have now passed since the news first broke of marriage problems between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, and yet there is still yet to be any formal statement from the couple about their marital status. This is despite the fact that they haven’t been photographed together since June and have spent most of this summer living on opposite sides of the US, with Lopez choosing to spend her 55th birthday with friends and family – sans Affleck – in the Hamptons. That celebration came just days after the second anniversary of her wedding to Affleck, which they spent separately, with Lopez on the East Coast and Affleck in Los Angeles (without his wedding ring).

This week, however, Lopez has returned to LA with Hollywood sources claiming that some kind of announcement from Bennifer is apparently imminent. One source has claimed that Lopez is back on the West Coast in order to finalise paperwork for the divorce, while another report has suggested that some kind of ‘split statement’ has already been penned, with the estranged couple poised to share the news at any moment.

Speculation about the state of their marriage has been rife, but it has reached a crescendo with reports that Affleck is holding off filing for divorce in order to spare Lopez further ‘embarrassment’. Page Six reported, ‘She’s furious. He has humiliated her. He was the one who initiated getting back together.

It has been claimed that the Good Will Hunting star, 51, and the singer, 55, are ready to move ahead with the seemingly much-stalled divorce because their documents are said to be ‘finalised, but not yet turned in’ to the courts. It has also been claimed the pair have cut ties with each other completely and have even stopped talking. Lopez was, however, spotted with Affleck’s daughter Violet on an outing in the Hamptons last month. This is because the couple are said to have been keen to maintain some stability and normality for their blended family.

​​After they split following their initial romance in 2004, Affleck and Lopez went on to marry and have kids with Jennifer Garner and Marc Anthony, respectively. They now share a blended family, Affleck has three children — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — with Garner, 52, while Lopez is mum to 16-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Anthony. ‘They are committed to remaining close for their children’s sakes,’ said the source. ‘Things feel uncertain whichever way you look at them, and whether they will manage a U-turn on their separation is up in the air. But their priority is being a stable presence for their blended family. Everything else comes second.’ Indeed the last time Lopez and Affleck were spotted together was at his son Sam’s graduation in June where they put on a united front.

But while they’ve been putting on a brave face for the kids, behind the scenes things are obviously not so good. While Affleck is said to be feeling ‘relief’ that things are coming to an official end, Lopez is said to be hurting. ‘Ben has decided he would be happier living out of the spotlight for a while,’ said Grazia’s source. ‘Jen tried to fix things and work on their relationship but it has proven too difficult.’

Affleck and Lopez have the matter of their professional collaboration, on new film Unstoppable, in which Lopez stars and Affleck is producer, which is still due for a huge world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month. Other than that, say sources, they have divided their assets.

So now, the couple are figuring out their next chapters. Whilst their marital home in Beverly Hills is said to be on the market, Affleck has already found himself a new $20 million home in Pacific Palisades. ‘It’s a fresh start after what was undeniably a short marriage,’ said the source. ‘Ben says there are no hard feelings.’ Time will tell.