Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck Divorce Official! Couple Committed to 'Co-Parenting' Kids

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Jul 01, 2015 06:26 AM EDT

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have split and confirmed that they are divorcing after 10 years of marriage.

Garner and Affleck's 10th wedding anniversary came on Monday. Married in 2005, the couple have three children: Violet, 9; Seraphina, 6; and Samuel, 3.

"After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," Garner and Affleck told PEOPLE. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

According to an unnamed source cited by ABC News, the actors will co-parent their children but will live in separate houses. Reportedly, they are also looking for a mediator to settle their divorce. With reference to California law, Affleck will be paying spousal and child support, considering length of his marriage to Garner.

"They don't want this to be War of the Roses," a source told US Magazine. "They want it to be simple and this takes the drama out of it. It is important for them to keep this nice and efficient for the sake of their family."

Allegedly, there has been something going on with the couple's relationship for a while. The insider added that Garner and Affleck -- or "BenJen" -- did their best to make the marriage work.

Yet apparently, both have decided that the best course of action for the good of everybody, specially their family, was to split.

Garner and Affleck met on the set of the 2003 movie "Daredevil" and wed in private on June 29, 2005. According to USA Today, since giving birth, Garner focused on raising their children and only starred in smaller, supportive roles in movies such as "Juno," "Butter," "Alexander and the Terrible," "Horrible" and "Dallas Buyers Club."

During their time together, then husband, Affleck's career was booming as he expanded to directing award-winning movies such as "Gone Baby Gone," The Town" and "Argo."

Last year, Affleck praised Garner during a November gala for choosing "not so time-consuming" projects and still spend time with their kids.

"She's been really smart about choosing her projects," Affleck said via ABC. "They're not so time-consuming that she can't do this work and be there for our kids, which is the most important thing to her."

Garner responded in the same event that they were "selective" about their choices because they "don't scatter energy around."

What do you think about Garner and Affleck parting ways?

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