Zahara and Maddox Jolie-Pitt, children of actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have initiated legal proceedings to drop their father's last name. Notices of intent to change their names were published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal in June and July.
Zahara's petition seeks to change her name from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie. Maddox's petition aims to change his name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. Both notices indicated scheduled court hearings for the matter, with Maddox's set for September 14 and Zahara's for September 28.
This move follows Zahara's prior public use of the name Jolie, including when she joined a sorority at Spelman College. Other children of Pitt and Jolie, Shiloh and Vivienne, have also reportedly stopped using their father's surname. The status of their son Pax's surname usage is not specified.
Pitt and Jolie, who were a prominent Hollywood couple, were together for many years before marrying in 2014. They have six children: Maddox, Zahara, Pax, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox. Their relationship and subsequent divorce in 2016 became the subject of extensive public and legal scrutiny, including disputes over child custody and a winery.
Representatives for both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The legal process for name changes typically involves public notification to allow any dissenting parties to present their objections in court.