Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt has completed the mandatory public notification requirements in the Los Angeles Daily Journal to legally change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The 21-year-old filed a petition in June 2026, with the notices running on June 16, June 23, June 30, and July 7, 2026, as part of the process leading to a final court hearing in September.
Legal Hurdles for a Surname Change
In California, changing a legal name requires a strict administrative process. According to the court filings, Zahara satisfied the state’s notice requirement by publishing her intent to change her name in the Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four consecutive weeks. These notices ran on June 16, June 23, June 30, and July 7, 2026.
This public notice serves as a window for any parties to file a written opposition to the request. If no objections are submitted, a judge is scheduled to review the petition during a hearing on September 28, 2026. If approved, the legal transition from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie will be finalized.
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A Growing Trend Within the Family
Zahara’s petition follows a series of similar actions taken by her siblings. Her sister, Shiloh, officially dropped “Pitt” from her name in 2024 after completing the same legal notification process. Additionally, both Maddox and Vivienne have stopped publicly using “Pitt” in recent years.
Conflicting Perspectives on Family Rifts
A source close to Brad Pitt, speaking to TMZ, characterized the name changes as part of a broader, ongoing campaign to alienate the children from their father. This source attributed the current rift to the influence of Angelina Jolie, framing the legal actions as a “very sad” development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people have to publish name changes in a newspaper?
It gives the public a chance to object to the change.
What happens if someone objects to the name change?
If a formal written objection is filed, the judge will hold a hearing to consider the merits of the opposition before deciding whether to grant the request.
Is it common for children to drop a parent’s surname?
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