Zahara Jolie-Pitt has formally dropped her father's surname, becoming the latest child of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to distance herself from the name. Court documents seen by the Daily Mail show that Zahara, 21, legally changed her name to Zahara Marley Jolie at a Los Angeles Superior Court.
A minute order in the case read: 'After review of the case file, the court rules as follows: There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted.' The order added: 'The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner's name is changed from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie.'
Siblings follow the same path
Zahara's decision follows a pattern among the couple's six children – Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 18 – who all originally carried the Jolie-Pitt surname. Vivienne also removed 'Pitt' from her name, following in the footsteps of Shiloh and Maddox. Court records reportedly listed the reason for the change simply as 'personal'.
In 2024, on her 18th birthday, Shiloh filed paperwork to change her name to Shiloh Jolie, according to TMZ. A source told People that Pitt was 'aware and upset' by the decision, adding: 'He's never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter.' The source added: 'The reminders that he's lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It's very sad.'
Legal steps and public name changes
Vivienne's filing came after adopted siblings Zahara and Maddox also began the legal process of removing Pitt from their surnames earlier this year. According to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail, both published notices of their intentions in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, as required under California law before their court hearings, which were expected to take place in September.
Long before taking formal legal action, both had already begun publicly using Jolie instead of Jolie-Pitt. Zahara introduced herself as Zahara Marley Jolie when joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in 2023 and was announced by the same name during her university graduation. Maddox was credited simply as Maddox Jolie on Angelina Jolie's recent film Couture. Even before Vivienne's legal filing, she had quietly omitted Pitt from her name in the playbill for the Broadway production of The Outsiders, where she worked alongside her mother as a producer's assistant.
Background of the family rift
In 2022, a source told People that Pitt was hoping to improve his relationship with his children, which had been in 'a bad situation for years.' The insider said: 'Since Angelina filed for divorce, Brad has been focused on having the best relationship possible with his kids. It's been very difficult for him. Many times, there have been long gaps where he didn't see the kids at all.'
The couple's split followed a private plane journey from France to California in 2016, during which Jolie accused Pitt of being drunk and aggressive. She claimed he grabbed her by the head, injured her back and elbow, choked one of their children, and struck another. The altercation was said to have started between him and one of his children, escalating into a physical fight in which he poured beer and wine over his family. Five days later, Jolie filed for divorce, and eight years later, the former couple reached a divorce settlement.
Authorities received an anonymous tip-off about the incident, sparking an FBI investigation, which was ultimately closed with no charges made. Pitt has always denied all claims made against him, previously responding via a statement from his lawyer: 'Brad has owned everything he's responsible for from day one – unlike the other side – but he's not going to own anything he didn't do. He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation.'
The couple have also been locked in a lengthy legal battle over a French winery, Château Miraval. In October 2021, Jolie sold her half for $67 million (£51 million) after discussions for Pitt to buy her out fell through. Pitt sued her in 2022, claiming her decision to sell her stake to SPI Group owner Yuri Shefler violated their previous agreement. In a countersuit, Jolie said Pitt had secretly manoeuvred to take control of the winery, accusing him of 'waging a vindictive war against' her since she filed for divorce.
During the legal dispute, Jolie's attorneys claimed in court papers released in 2024 that Pitt's alleged abuse predated the plane journey, stating: 'Pitt's history of physical abuse of Jolie started well before the family's plane trip from France to Los Angeles… this flight marked the first time he turned his physical abuse on the children as well.' The papers also alleged the children continue to experience 'significant and ongoing post-traumatic stress'. Pitt has always denied all claims against him.
In a motion filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, Jolie claimed Pitt conditioned the sale of her winery stake on her signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that 'prohibited Jolie from speaking (other than in court) about Pitt's abuse of Jolie and their children by attempting to tie Pitt's personal reputation to Miraval's business.' The filing added that Jolie would prove at trial why Pitt 'blew up his own deal to purchase Jolie's interest in Miraval because she refused to agree to his new, expansive NDA.' The documents also stated that Jolie didn't press charges over the alleged plane altercation because she believed 'the best course was for Pitt to accept responsibility and help the family recover from the post-traumatic stress he caused.'
