Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's youngest daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, has taken a significant step toward establishing her own identity by filing a petition to legally drop her father's surname. According to court documents obtained by multiple outlets, the 18-year-old filed a name change request on Monday, July 20, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, asking to have her last name changed from Jolie-Pitt to simply Jolie. The petition states the reason for the change is "personal."

Vivienne, who turned 18 on July 12, is the second-oldest of the twins she shares with her brother Knox. Her full legal name is Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt. In her filing, she specifically requests the removal of "Pitt" from her surname, leaving only Jolie. A hearing for the name change is scheduled for November 2.

This move is part of a broader pattern among the children of the former Hollywood power couple, who have been gradually severing their legal ties to Brad Pitt in the years following their parents' highly publicized divorce. Vivienne's older siblings—Shiloh, Maddox, and Zahara—have all either petitioned or successfully changed their names to drop the "Pitt" portion. Shiloh, now 20, had her name change to Shiloh Jolie granted in August 2024. Maddox, 24, filed paperwork in April of the same year to change his name to Maddox Jolie, also citing personal reasons. Zahara, 21, filed in June and is expected to finalize her name change in late September. None of the children have publicly commented on their reasons, but the consistency of their actions suggests a collective desire to distance themselves from their father amid the ongoing legal battles between Jolie and Pitt.

Background of the Jolie-Pitt Family

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, once known affectionately as "Brangelina," were one of the most famous couples in Hollywood. They began their relationship in 2005 after meeting on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," while Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston. The couple eventually married in August 2014 in a private ceremony at their French estate, Château Miraval. Together they have six children: Maddox (adopted from Cambodia), Pax (adopted from Vietnam), Zahara (adopted from Ethiopia), Shiloh (their first biological child), and twins Vivienne and Knox.

Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was not finalized until December 2024, after a long and bitter legal fight. The couple was declared legally single in 2019, but the finalization of their divorce was delayed by disputes over child custody, property division, and allegations of abuse.

The Contentious Divorce and Allegations

The divorce proceedings were marked by heated exchanges and revelations about the family's private life. In October 2022, Jolie accused Pitt of physical abuse during a private flight from France to Los Angeles in 2016. She alleged that Pitt assaulted her and two of their children on that flight. In later court filings, Jolie contended that Pitt's abuse of her started "long before" the airplane incident, and that it was the first time the children had been subjected to his behavior. Pitt denied the allegations, and the FBI declined to pursue charges after investigating the incident.

The custody battle over the children was particularly intense. In 2021, a judge awarded Pitt 50/50 custody, but that ruling was later overturned by a California appeals court. The court found that the judge had failed to disclose professional relationships with Pitt's attorneys, which could have created a conflict of interest. The custody case has continued to drag on, with both sides trading accusations in court filings.

Name Changes as a Symbolic Break

The trend of the children dropping Pitt's surname began in 2024 with Shiloh, who was the first to legally change her name. She was followed by Maddox, Zahara, and now Vivienne. Pax and Knox have not yet taken similar steps. The children have not publicly explained their decisions, but the timing and consistency suggest a collective desire to align more closely with their mother, with whom they have remained close. Vivienne, for instance, was seen accompanying Jolie on the red carpet at the Tony Awards in June 2024, where her name appeared in the playbill as Vivienne Jolie, signaling the change before the legal filing.

Angelina Jolie herself has been outspoken about her commitment to her children's well-being. In various interviews, she has described them as her priority and has shielded them from the public eye as much as possible. The name changes may be seen as a way for the children to assert their own identities separate from the media narrative that has surrounded their family.

Legal and Financial Fallout

The name changes are just one aspect of the legal disputes between Jolie and Pitt. The couple has also been locked in a battle over Château Miraval, the French vineyard and estate they once owned jointly. In 2022, Jolie sold her share to a Russian billionaire, a move that Pitt contested. He claimed that Jolie had violated an agreement that neither would sell their stake without the other's consent. The dispute led to further allegations, with Jolie accusing Pitt of trying to control her finances and using the legal system to harass her.

In 2023, Pitt filed a countersuit alleging that Jolie's sale was an act of bad faith and that she had deliberately sought to cause him financial harm. The legal fight over Miraval is ongoing, adding another layer of complexity to their already strained relationship.

Implications for the Children

For Vivienne and her siblings, the name changes represent a personal decision to carve out their own paths. Turning 18 gives them the legal right to make such changes without parental consent. The trend among the Jolie-Pitt children mirrors similar actions by other celebrity offspring who have chosen to adopt only one parent's surname, often after divorce or estrangement.

Psychologists note that name changes can be a way for young adults to assert independence and distance themselves from a difficult family history. In the case of the Jolie-Pitt children, the decision may also reflect their personal experiences and relationships with their father. While Pitt has not publicly commented on the name changes, sources close to him have said that he is aware of the situation and that it is a private family matter.

The hearing for Vivienne's name change is scheduled for November 2. If granted, she will officially become Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. Her brother Knox has not taken similar action, and it remains to be seen whether he or Pax will follow suit.

As the Jolie-Pitt family continues to navigate these legal and personal transitions, the children are increasingly stepping into adulthood with their own identities, separate from the famous names they once shared. The name changes may be a small but significant step in their journey toward independence.

Source: MSN News