What Ben Affleck Was Up to Before Jennifer Lopez Filed: Japan with Jennifer Garner and Kids, Violet’s College Dropoff

Lopez filed for divorce on Aug. 20 two years after she and Affleck tied the knot in July 2022

Ben Affleck had an eventful few weeks before news of his split from Jennifer Lopez was announced.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, Lopez, 55, filed for divorce from the actor, 52, after just over two years of marriage, multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE. The pair tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 17, 2022, but Aug. 20 marked the second anniversary of their traditional wedding ceremony in Georgia.

Related: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Cutest Couple Photos

Hours before news of Lopez's filing broke, Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52, arrived back in Los Angeles after dropping their daughter Violet, 18, off at college at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

After getting off the plane, Garner and Affleck got in the car and left together.

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“Jen and Ben are great at coming together for family events,” a source told PEOPLE. “Violet’s brilliant and very responsible. Jen and Ben know she’ll do fantastic.”

On Monday, an insider said that Affleck "has been very focused on getting Violet ready for move-in" amid his and Lopez's marital tension.

"It’s, of course, a huge deal for the whole family, and they’ve all been so excited the last few weeks," the source added to PEOPLE.

Related: Why Jennifer Lopez Finally Filed for Divorce from Ben Affleck: 'She Was Done Waiting' (Exclusive Sources)

Garner and Affleck, whose divorce was finalized in 2018 after they married in 2005, also share kids Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, together.

Days before Violet's college drop-off, Affleck marked his 52nd birthday on Aug. 15 with a "small birthday celebration at home" with his kids. Garner was also seen making an appearance.

"It's exactly what he wanted. He didn't want to go out to celebrate. The kids had gifts for him, and it was cute," a source told PEOPLE, adding, "Jennifer [Lopez] stopped by to congratulate him."

The insider continued, "The kids were with Ben for most of the day. He didn't leave the house at all for his birthday."

The Good Will Hunting star recently joined the Yes Day actress and their kids on a trip to Japan, PEOPLE confirmed. Affleck didn't appear in a carousel of photos and videos from the trip that Garner shared on Instagram on Aug. 15.

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The 13 Going on 30 star posted highlights from her "dream trip" to the country, which included eating ramen noodles, boat rides, and trying fresh abalone.

"This abalone was alive in front of us five minutes ago. We have to honor it by eating it," a hesitant Garner said in a clip before tasting the shellfish.

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