Beyonce Spotted Apartment Shopping — Without Jay Z!

Singer Beyonce is apparently preparing for life after her divorce from rap mogul Jay Z, 45. For weeks now the 32-year-old mother of one has been living the life of an independent single mom. Beyonce, who is taking a break from her and Jay Z’s joint “On the Run” tour, was spotted apartment shopping in NYC without Jay Z.

According to an exclusive report in the NY Post, Beyonce plans to file for divorce after completing her contractual obligations for the tour.

Friends say Bey and Jay’s marriage bonds are irretrievably broken. It is unclear if Jay Z will fight for custody of his daughter, Blue Ivy, 3, who some say was carried by a surrogate. Friends urge the aging rapper to fight for custody, given that he is the biological father and Beyonce is reportedly not the biological mom.

From The NY Daily News:

The “Single Ladies” songstress was spotted checking out a $21.5 million penthouse in Chelsea, not far from the building Katie Holmes fled to after her divorce from Tom Cruise, a source confirmed to the Daily News.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom duplex is certainly stunning — it has panoramic views of the city and the Hudson River — but it doesn’t come close to the size of the couple’s current 8,000-square-foot apartment, at 195 Hudson St. in Tribeca, leading some to suggest that it would be perfect as a short-term refuge for Beyoncé and her daughter Blue Ivy.

The pad, at 520 West 19th St., totals 4,054 square feet and has a massive terrace facing the Empire State Building, a 20-foot dining room, double fireplaces and a library. The building, which has a distinctive midnight blue terracotta façade, also has a doorman to ensure the privacy and safety of its residents.