Jennifer Garner’s comments about money after her divorce from Ben Affleck challenge a familiar assumption: marry someone wealthy, divorce them, and stay financially secure for life.
If only household budgets respected celebrity gossip.
On the August 25 podcast episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, Garner described reassessing her earning future after stepping back from acting. Because she received “no giant windfall” after her divorce, she feared for her financial well-being.
Why would a family law firm in Western Washington care? Because the same assumption shows up in our consultations all the time.
What did Garner actually say about money after her divorce?
Her point had less to do with her bank balance and more to do with timing. Garner had put her acting on hold while she raised three children. With the divorce, she realized she needed a plan to support herself and her kids. She and her manager chose projects carefully so she could stay near home, and in 2017 she co-founded the baby food company Once Upon a Farm.
Her experience is rather common. The spouse who paused a career often finds that a divorce doesn't hand over a financial cushion but a to-do list.
Is a divorce settlement really a payout in Washington?
Not the way people imagine. Washington is a community property state, which generally means that what either spouse earns or acquires during the marriage belongs to both. Property owned before the marriage, along with most inheritances and gifts, is usually separate property.
In a divorce, however, a judge doesn't simply split everything down the middle. Under RCW 26.09.080, the court divides property and debts in a way that is "just and equitable," which is a legal way of saying fair under the circumstances.
Fair isn't always equal. The judge looks at what each spouse owns, how long the marriage lasted, and each spouse's financial situation once the divorce is final.
Debts get divided too, which surprises people who expected only the fun part.
Business interests count as property as well. Our post on who gets the TikTok account in a divorce shows how that plays out when the asset is a follower count. If you own a company, or help your spouse run one, its value can become part of the discussion.
How to prepare for a Washington divorce (no publicist required)
You can’t control the headlines, but you can control your homework. Garner has said she didn’t think much about money while she was married, which is easy to do when there’s no reason to. Prep won’t make a divorce fun, but it does make it less of a surprise. A few steps help almost everyone:
- Gather recent tax returns and bank statements. Think of it as the least glamorous press kit ever assembled.
- List what you own and owe, including any business interests. Yes, even the ones that seemed like a great idea at the time.
- Draft a realistic monthly budget for life after the divorce. “I’ll figure it out” has a poor track record as a budgeting method.
- Think through when and how you might return to full-time work, if that applies to you. Garner’s version involved co-founding a baby food company. A résumé refresh counts, too.
None of this is glamorous, but it shapes outcomes, and organized numbers make early conversations faster and far less stressful. Her story is a reminder that “I’ll worry about money later” is a plan with a short shelf life.
Ready to get your own facts straight? Talk with a Western Washington family law attorney
Celebrity or not, a divorce outcome rests on facts, and the sooner you understand yours, the more options you keep. Garner has said she panicked when she realized how much she’d stepped back from work. You don’t have to wait for that moment to find out where you stand. A Western Washington family law attorney can walk you through it before the panic sets in.
For Washington spouses, a useful settlement discussion starts with documented finances and realistic needs. Even better, a conversation with a family law attorney can show you where you stand. Contact us so we can discuss your financial circumstances and options before you commit to any agreement.