Zahara and Maddox Pitt publicly remove ‘Pitt’ from their last names through newspaper ads
In a significant legal development, Zahara and Maddox, the children of prominent actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, have taken formal steps to change their surnames. In a series of newspaper advertisements published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, both siblings indicated their intentions to drop their father’s surname. This public declaration is a requirement under California law for any legal name change.
Zahara, who is now 21 years old, initiated her petition on June 16, and the notice ran weekly through July 7. In the published announcement, Zahara invited any opposing parties to submit written objections before a scheduled hearing on September 28, during which a judge will consider her request. Without opposition, it is expected that the court will grant the name change.
Maddox, currently 24, similarly took action to change his surname from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. His advertisement for the name change appeared in the same publication, and the petitions were published between June 10 and July 1. The siblings’ legal maneuvers mark a deliberate step toward redefining their identities, further emphasized by Zahara’s recent graduation from Spelman College, where she chose to use her modified surname.
The decision to omit their father’s surname is noteworthy in the context of the siblings’ familial relations. Relations between the children and their father have been notably strained since Jolie and Pitt’s highly publicized split in 2016. This shift away from Pitt’s surname may indicate a further distancing from their father’s legacy, as all six of Jolie and Pitt’s children have reportedly chosen to distance themselves from him in various capacities.
Legal experts remark that the process of changing one’s name in California necessitates such public announcements to ensure transparency and provide an opportunity for any third parties to voice concerns. After the hearing in September, if no objections are raised, Zahara’s and Maddox’s requests will likely be granted, solidifying their decisions to embrace a new identity aligned with their mother’s.
Zahara’s and Maddox’s petitions contribute to an ongoing narrative of estrangement from their father, reflective of the complex dynamics at play within the family. While there may be differing reports regarding each child’s relationship with Pitt, it is clear that the path they are choosing marks a significant moment in their personal journeys.
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