Two more of Brad Pitt’s kids want to ditch his surname

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Brad Pitt’s Eldest Children Pursue Name Changes Without Father’s Surname

Two more of Brad Pitt’s children have officially moved forward with legal petitions to remove his family name from their identities. Maddox, now 24 years old, and Zahara, 21, filed separate requests with California courts to transition away from the double-barreled surname they inherited throughout their lives. According to court documents, both siblings cited personal motivations as the driving force behind their decision to pursue this meaningful change.

This development adds another layer to the extended legal journey between Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the former Hollywood power couple whose relationship breakdown has captivated public attention for more than a decade. Although the couple finalized their divorce proceedings in late 2024, they continue to navigate various legal matters together, including an ongoing dispute over Château Miraval, the French vineyard estate they once shared ownership of.

Legal Process Underway in Los Angeles

Zahara recently submitted electronic paperwork to the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles, requesting to change her name from “Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt” to “Zahara Marley Jolie.” Her elder brother Maddox had begun similar proceedings in May, seeking official authorization to remove Pitt from his combined family designation.

Under California law, both siblings published formal announcements in the Los Angeles Daily Journal during June and July. These advertisements ran weekly for four consecutive weeks, allowing any interested parties to raise concerns about the proposed changes. If no objections arise, court rulings are expected soon. Maddox’s name change should receive a decision around mid-September, while Zahara’s petition will likely be resolved by month’s end.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Pitt regarding these developments. At the time of publication, representatives for both Zahara and Maddox were unavailable to provide comment.

Historical Context of the Family’s Legal Journey

Pitt and Jolie married in 2014 before beginning divorce proceedings two years later in 2016. Together, they raised six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. Their family dynamics came under intense scrutiny following a September 2016 private jet flight traveling from France to the United States.

Information about this journey surfaced in August 2022 when an FBI report, partially redacted but shared with CNN by a source, revealed that Jolie accused Pitt of physical aggression toward her and verbal mistreatment of their children during the flight. Pitt subsequently became the subject of an investigation linked to these allegations but was never formally arrested or charged, according to an FBI statement released at that time.

“Brad has accepted responsibility for what he did but will not for things he didn’t do.”

Jolie initiated divorce proceedings shortly after the 2016 incident. In an October 2022 countersuit connected to their winery litigation, she additionally alleged that Pitt “choked one of the children and struck another in the face” during the aforementioned incident. Pitt’s representative conveyed this statement to CNN at the time, acknowledging partial accountability while maintaining boundaries regarding unproven accusations.

Jolie, who had previously maintained the double-barreled surname, officially removed Pitt from her name in 2019 after a court formally dissolved their marriage. Other children have also pursued similar changes. Vivienne reportedly used “Vivienne Jolie” in the playbill for “The Outsiders,” the Tony-winning musical she co-produced with her mother in 2024. That same year, Shiloh submitted a petition to legally eliminate Pitt from her surname as well.

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