Drake Bell filed new documents to finalize his divorce from Janet Von Schmeling, according to public court records from Seminole County, Florida. The Drake & Josh actor submitted the paperwork on Thursday, Aug. 14.
The filing moves forward the divorce process that Von Schmeling started in Los Angeles County in 2023. She cited “irreconcilable differences” in her original petition.
Bell’s manager, Juan José Rovirosa, told PEOPLE the recent filing is “simply concluding the legal process” that began with Von Schmeling’s 2023 filing.
The former couple is focusing on their 4-year-old son Jeremy.
“Their priority remains the safety and well-being of their son, and they are doing so from a place of love and respect,” Rovirosa said.
He added that Bell and Von Schmeling are “closing a beautiful chapter of their lives.”
Relationship Timeline
Bell and Von Schmeling dated for five years before marrying in 2018. Bell didn’t publicly announce the marriage until 2021.
The couple shares custody of their son Jeremy, who’s now 4 years old.
Co-Parenting Approach
Bell recently discussed his co-parenting relationship on The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby in July. He explained how he and Von Schmeling maintain respect for each other around their son.
“So I don’t care if I’m angry at my ex-wife or at his mom, which is very rare, actually never, or if we have a disagreement about something or if there’s anything – all my son knows […] is that me and his mom love each other, we’re not together but we love each other and we respect each other and we love him unconditionally,” Bell said.
Bell emphasized that they only praise each other in front of Jeremy.
“When he’s like, ‘Oh, I miss mama, I miss mama. Oh, I love mama. [It’s like], ‘I love mama too.’ It’s all that I want him to hear,” he explained. “She’s the same way. I’m like, we always make sure if we’re upset at each other, he doesn’t hear it. We only praise each other. I only praise his mom.”
Bell’s manager said the actor is currently “fully focused on his music and ongoing projects” as he moves through this transition.
