Full Breakdown
Maddox Jolie Seeks to Legally Drop “Pitt” from Surname
6/2/2026, 8:10:37 AM
Maddox Jolie’s Legal Name-Change Request
Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, the 24-year-old eldest child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, filed a petition on May 28 to change his legal name to Maddox Chivan Jolie. The filing, reported by TMZ and confirmed by People, would remove “Pitt” from his surname. A judge has not yet ruled on the request.
Family Name Changes and Context
Maddox’s filing follows similar actions by his siblings. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt legally dropped “Pitt” in May 2024; Zahara Marley Jolie used “Jolie” at her 2026 Spelman College graduation. The parents’ divorce, finalized in December 2024 after an eight-year battle, has been described as “acrimonious,” and reports indicate ongoing estrangement between Brad Pitt and several children.
Timeline of Key Developments
Key dates: Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox in 2002; the joint “Jolie-Pitt” surname was approved in 2006; the couple filed for divorce in 2016; Shiloh changed her name in May 2024; Maddox filed in May 2025; *Couture* premiered at TIFF in September 2025 crediting him as “Maddox Jolie”; Zahara graduated in May 2026 using “Jolie.”
Official Statements & Responses
A Brad Pitt spokesperson declined comment, and a Jolie representative also offered no comment. A source close to Pitt said he is “aware and upset” about the children’s name changes, noting the emotional difficulty of losing the familial connection.
Criticism & Opposition
Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt’s 2020 Instagram post called his father a “world-class a---hole” and a “despicable human being.” An insider reported Brad Pitt’s “biggest fear is to be permanently disconnected from the kids because he does want to find a way to make things right.”
Impact and Significance
The name-change petitions publicly distance the children from their father’s brand and could affect future custody decisions as the younger siblings near adulthood. Socially, the moves underscore the personal fallout of a high-profile divorce and may shape public views of celebrity families.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My name is Zahara Marley Jolie. And [I] landed all the way from the Golden State in the city full of angels: Los Angeles, California,” — Zahara Marley Jolie, graduate
- “He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name,” said a source close to Pitt. “The reminders that he’s lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them.” — Source close to Brad Pitt
- “ "[Brad's] biggest fear is to be permanently disconnected from the kids because he does want to find a way to make things right," an insider explained to US Weekly.” — Insider to US Weekly
- “I have to be more for them.” — Brad Pitt, 2017 GQ interview. “And I haven’t been great at it.” — Brad Pitt
What’s Next
The court’s decision on Maddox’s petition is pending. Observers note that further name-change filings could follow, and any outcome may influence the family’s legal and personal relationships.
