Full Breakdown
Zahara Jolie-Pitt Moves to Legally Drop “Pitt” from Her Surname
7/13/2026, 10:08:53 PM
Core Event
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, the 21-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has completed the California legal requirement of publishing a notice of her name-change petition in the *Los Angeles Daily Journal* for four consecutive weeks (June 16, 23, 30 and July 7). The petition, filed in June, seeks to change her legal name from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie. A Superior Court hearing is set for September 28; if no written objections are filed, a judge may approve the change. Her brother Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt filed a similar petition in May, also requesting to drop “Pitt.”
Background & Context
The name-change filings follow a pattern that began after the high-profile 2016 divorce of Jolie and Pitt, which concluded with a settlement in January 2025. Their six children—Maddox (24), Pax (22), Zahara (21), Shiloh (20), Vivienne (17) and Knox (17)—have increasingly distanced themselves from their father’s surname. Shiloh was the first to make the change official on her 18th birthday in May 2024, hiring her own lawyer and paying the filing fees herself. Both Maddox and Zahara informally stopped using “Pitt” in public settings in 2021 and 2024, respectively, before pursuing legal routes.
Key Figures & Groups
- Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt – eldest adopted daughter, Spelman College graduate, now petitioning to become Zahara Marley Jolie.
- Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt – second-eldest son, filed a petition citing “personal” reasons.
- Shiloh Nouvel Jolie – sister who legally removed “Pitt” in 2024.
- Angelina Jolie – mother, has publicly expressed disapproval of her children’s surname changes.
- Brad Pitt – father, has not publicly commented on the recent petitions.
- Los Angeles Superior Court – venue for the hearings.
Timeline
- April 28, 2026 – Zahara signs petition in Los Angeles Superior Court.
- June 16, 23, 30, 2026 – Zahara’s notice runs in the *Los Angeles Daily Journal*.
- July 1, 2026 – Maddox’s notice runs in the same publication.
- July 7, 2026 – Final week of Zahara’s required notices.
- September 28, 2026 – Scheduled hearing for Zahara’s name-change request.
Data & Statistics
- Six children share the Jolie-Pitt lineage.
- Four consecutive weekly notices are mandated by California law for a name-change petition.
- Two siblings (Zahara and Maddox) have filed petitions within weeks of each other in 2026.
Why It Matters / Impact
The petitions underscore ongoing familial tensions stemming from the 2016 divorce and subsequent custody battles. Legal removal of “Pitt” may affect future branding, inheritance considerations, and public perception of the family’s unity. The moves also reflect a broader trend among celebrity offspring asserting individual identity separate from parental fame.
Official Statements & Responses
- Angelina Jolie’s 2022 filing alleged that Brad Pitt “by the head and shook her, and then grabbed her shoulders and shook her again before pushing her into the bathroom wall,” a claim Pitt denied, and the FBI declined to investigate.
- Brad Pitt has not issued a public response to the recent name-change filings.
Criticism & Opposition
- Jolie has publicly “doesn’t support” her son Maddox’s decision to drop the Pitt surname, according to a 2021 report.
- A source close to Brad suggested that Angelina Jolie is “behind the tensions” affecting the children’s relationship with their father.
On-the-Ground Reports
At Zahara’s May 17 Spelman College commencement, the announcer introduced her as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” indicating she has already been using the shortened surname in informal settings.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on when Maddox ceased using “Pitt” on non-legal documents—some cite 2021, others note a 2024 public credit change. No official comment from Brad Pitt is available regarding the petitions.
Verbatim Quotes
What’s Next
The September 28 hearing will determine whether Zahara’s request to become Zahara Marley Jolie is granted. A similar hearing for Maddox is anticipated later in 2026, pending any objections.
