Vivienne Jolie petitions to legally remove Brad Pitt from her surname

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt has initiated legal proceedings to formally remove her father's surname. The 18-year-old filed a petition in the Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally change her name to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. According to court documents, the reason provided for the request is personal.

A court hearing regarding the petition is scheduled for November 2. This legal action follows a trend among the children of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, several of whom have sought to distance themselves from their father’s name following the couple’s 2016 separation. Their divorce was finalized in 2024, yet ongoing legal disputes, including a contention over the Château Miraval winery, continue to draw public attention to the family.

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Vivienne, who was born in July 2008 alongside her twin brother, Knox, is the youngest of the six children shared by the former couple. Her decision to seek a legal name change follows a previous professional shift; in May 2024, she was credited as Vivienne Jolie in the Playbill for the Broadway production of The Outsiders, a project she assisted on while her mother served as a lead producer. Prior to this, she made a professional appearance as a child actor in the 2014 film Maleficent.

A Siblings' Pattern

The move marks Vivienne as the latest sibling to pursue a formal break from the Pitt surname in court. Shiloh Jolie previously filed a petition to change her name upon turning 18 in May 2024, a request that was later granted by the court. Her legal representative, Peter Levine, stated that her decision followed painful events in her life.

Other siblings have taken similar steps. Zahara Marley Jolie introduced herself publicly by her mother's surname during a 2023 sorority ceremony at Spelman College before filing a legal notice. Maddox Chivan Jolie also filed a petition in May 2026. Legal proceedings for these requests remain in progress, with Maddox’s hearing set for September 14, and Zahara’s scheduled for September 28.

Public Fallout

The legal petitions have highlighted the estrangement between the Academy Award-winning actor and his children. While neither Pitt nor Jolie have directly addressed the latest filing in public statements, sources close to the actor have expressed frustration regarding the ongoing situation.

A source close to Pitt previously remarked to People:

"It’s sad to see someone repeatedly publicize their successful alienation of their children from the other parent."

Angelina Jolie has maintained that her focus remains on the autonomy of her children. In an October 2021 interview with People, she noted her approach to parenting by stating, We’re supposed to help them figure out who they are. And you can’t figure out who they are if you don’t enthusiastically develop with them.

Procedural Requirements

Under California law, adult petitioners seeking a name change must publish an Order to Show Cause in a newspaper for four consecutive weeks before their hearing. This allows for any legal objections to be raised. In uncontested cases, judges generally grant such requests once procedural requirements are met. The court hearings for Maddox, Zahara, and Vivienne will ultimately determine whether these name changes are finalized on official government records.

As the November 2 hearing date approaches, the judiciary will provide the final ruling on Vivienne's request, marking another stage in the high-profile separation of the family.