Zahara Jolie-Pitt has cleared a significant legal obstacle in her effort to officially remove the surname "Pitt" from her name. Proof of publication, a requirement in California for name changes, was confirmed in the Los Angeles Daily Journal on June 16, June 23, June 30, and July 7.
A court hearing is scheduled for September 28. Anyone wishing to object to the name change must file their objection at least two court days prior to this hearing. As of now, no objections have been officially recorded.
Zahara, whose legal name is currently Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, filed the petition to formally change her surname in June. If approved, her legal name will become Zahara Marley Jolie. This follows a similar action by her sibling, Shiloh, who also initiated a name change in 2024.
The move comes amid ongoing reports of a strained relationship between actor Brad Pitt and his children. Sources close to the family have suggested that the familial divisions have intensified over time, describing the situation as a "painful outcome" stemming from years of alleged parental alienation.
Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who share six children, began divorce proceedings in 2016. Jolie cited irreconcilable differences and initially requested sole custody. In May 2021, a court granted the former couple shared custody. The children include Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivienne. All six children are now over the age of 18.
Allegations of abuse against Pitt by Jolie and their children surfaced in court documents following the 2016 divorce filing. These documents detail an alleged incident where Pitt is accused of choking and striking a child, grabbing Jolie by the head, shaking her, and pouring beer and red wine on Jolie and their children. Court documents stated that some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop, expressing fear, and that many were crying.
Representatives for Pitt have previously disputed these claims, with a source telling Fox News Digital that Jolie was "revising her description" of the event and adding "completely untrue information" each time she did not achieve her desired outcome. Jolie filed for divorce days after the alleged altercation.
