Pitt, 62, and Angelina, 51, share six children: Maddox, 25, Pax, 22, Zahara, Shiloh, 20, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 18. The Mr. and Mrs. Smith stars separated in 2016 after 12 years together and two years of marriage, finalizing their divorce in December 2024.
Zahara petitioned to have “Pitt” removed from her last name on June 9 in a filing that dated back to April 28. Days earlier, Maddox also filed to remove his father’s last name. In July, both siblings confirmed their intent by publishing legal notices in the Los Angeles Daily Journal in accordance with California law.
On Sept. 14, Maddox’s name change from “Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt” to “Maddox Chivan Jolie” became official.
The move came exactly 10 years after an alleged incident involving Pitt and his family on a private plane ride. Sources previously laimed that on Sept. 14, 2016, the Oscar winner allegedly was “verbally abusive” and “physical” with one of his kids. (While Pitt was under investigation on suspicion of child abuse, the FBI later cleared the Ocean’s star, while the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services concluded its investigation with no findings of abuse.)
Maddox and Zahara have followed the legal move from Shiloh, who filed to drop Pitt’s name on her 18th birthday back in 2024.
On her own 18th birthday this past July, Vivienne filed to change her name from “Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt” to “Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.” Following another publication in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, her name change petition court hearing is set for Nov. 2.
In July 2024, a source close to Pitt told Women’s World Today that the F1 actor-producer had “virtually no contact” with his adult children, but still had visitation with his younger kids at the time. Earlier this month, a source confirmed that “there’s very little communication right now” between Pitt and his children, calling the situation “a tragedy.”
“This is the result of a prolonged campaign of alienation of children against their parent,”. “It’s an incredibly sad reality, but it’s not surprising after years of one parent weaponizing the children against the other one with no regard for the consequence.”
Zahara had previously hinted at her name change. When she walked the stage during her graduation from Spelman College in Atlanta in May, her name was read as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” and she introduced herself as such in a speech while joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023.
A source told Women’s World Today in May that Jolie has an “amazing relationship” with her daughter, and that the actress-activist shows up for “pretty much everything” Zahara is involved in.
“She really encourages all the kids to embrace their individualities. She always loved their different personalities, interests and talents,” the insider added. “She makes an effort to support what matters to each of them.”
