Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, the 18-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has filed a formal petition with the Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally change her surname to “Jolie.” According to court documents obtained by People, the request is currently pending, with a hearing scheduled for November 2. This move marks the fourth time one of the couple’s six children has sought to legally distance themselves from their father’s surname.
Legal Precedents in the Jolie-Pitt Family
The trend of name changes within the family has gained momentum throughout 2024. In August 2024, Vivienne’s older sister, Shiloh, 20, had her petition to shorten her name to “Shiloh Jolie” officially granted by the court. Two other siblings, Zahara, 21, and Maddox, 24, have also filed similar legal requests to remove “Pitt” from their names, which remain under active court review, as reported by People.
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Vivienne had already begun using the name “Vivienne Jolie” professionally before filing her court petition. When she assisted in the production of the Broadway musical The Outsiders alongside her mother in May 2024, she was credited under that name.
Context of the High-Profile Separation
The legal actions follow a protracted separation between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who first split in 2016. While their marriage officially ended eight years later, the pair remains entangled in ongoing litigation. Much of this conflict centers on the ownership of Château Miraval, the French winery where the couple married in 2014. Jolie has publicly stated she has not returned to the estate since the 2016 separation, and legal battles regarding the property continue to surface, including a $35 million lawsuit filed by Pitt against his former wife.
Public and Private Reactions
A source close to Brad Pitt expressed concerns regarding the public nature of these estrangements to People, stating, “It is sad to see someone repeatedly publicize their successful alienation of their children from the other parent.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are the Jolie-Pitt children changing their names?
The court documents filed by Vivienne Jolie-Pitt cite “personal” reasons for the request. - How many children have filed for name changes?
To date, four of the six children—Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne—have initiated legal processes to remove “Pitt” from their names. - When is the next court hearing for Vivienne’s name change?
The hearing is scheduled for November 2.
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