In 2010, Ben filed for a divorce stating irreconcilable differences as the reason. They got back together in 2012 and attended the 2012 Golden Globe Awards, together. Then, Dern initiated the separation and filed for it in 2012, July. The separation was finalized in 2013.

She requested joint custody of their children and also asked for spousal support and legal finances. Harper denied the spousal support and was ready to share the custody of the children. At the initial stages of the separation, Ben was focused on ending the relationship and when they got back together, Laura demanded a separation.

When Ben issued the separation papers, he informed the nanny that if she does not accept it, he would embarrass her in public. Harper stated that the incident never happened. Her first notable boyfriend was Treat Williams. She also dated Billy Bob, former husband of Angelina Jolie. Billy was her fiancée for many years and when she left the city for filming her movie, he got married to Angelina. When she came back, she heard the news about Billy and never heard from him again.

She used to use this incident a lot in the interviews. The incident was used to grab sentiment from the media. The Billy-Jolie relationship did not last long, but, she still uses this incident in her interviews. In ‘Wild at heart’ shooting, she spent an intimate scene with Nicholas Cage and it was said that the relationship carried on in off-screen too. There are no details to prove that rumor. Laura and Cage did not disapprove or agree to the rumor. Most of her relationships lasted only one or two years. She had a string of relationship, when it came to dating.

After the separation, she is not dating anyone, as of now. There are no rumors about Ben having a new girlfriend. Due to her active dating life, it is rumored and believed that she would have cheated on Ben. There are also rumors that she just reconciled with him to have a date when she wins the Academy award. Once the party was over, she was ready for the separation again.

Ben and Dern did not comment on any of those rumors and also kept the reason for the separation to themselves. There are no details about the final separation settlement. They share the custody of the kids and the details about the cash settlement are missing. She did not talk about her idea of remarriage or starting her dating life. She tends to keep her personal life decisions to themselves, unless it can be used as a sentiment.