Maddox Jolie Last Name Change: Brad Pitt, Family Rift and Timeline

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge officially approved Maddox Jolie-Pitt’s petition to legally change his name to Maddox Chivan Jolie on Monday, September 14, 2026. The 25-year-old, the eldest of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s six children, appeared remotely for the hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse alongside his attorney, Peter Kenneth Levine. Judge Virginia Keeny presided over the proceedings.

“There are no objections, the petition for change of name is granted,” the court’s minute order stated. “The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner’s name is changed from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie.”

The ruling makes Maddox the second of the Jolie-Pitt children to have a legal name change officially granted by a court. His younger sister Shiloh received her approved name change in August 2024. His sisters Zahara and Vivienne have also filed petitions, with Zahara’s hearing scheduled for September 2026 and Vivienne’s set for November 2, 2026.

The decision was not unexpected. Maddox had already begun using the name “Maddox Jolie” professionally, appearing under that credit as an assistant director on his mother’s film Couture, which opened in French cinemas in February 2026. He had previously been credited as “Maddox Jolie-Pitt” on the 2024 biographical drama Maria, where he and his brother Pax worked alongside Angelina.

A source told Us Weekly that Brad Pitt “wishes his relationship with his children were different” and that his “biggest fear is being permanently disconnected from his kids.” Sources close to Pitt have consistently pointed to Angelina Jolie as the driving force behind the children’s estrangement from their father, a characterization Jolie’s representatives have not publicly addressed.

This article provides the full story of the name change, how each of the six Jolie-Pitt children has responded to their parents’ separation, the legal process involved in changing a name in California, and the broader timeline of the family’s public fracture since 2016.

The Court Ruling That Made Maddox’s Name Change Official

The September 14 hearing was a brief procedural event. Maddox Jolie appeared via remote connection. His attorney, Peter Levine, who also represented Shiloh during her 2024 name change, was present. No objections were filed against the petition, which is a legal requirement in California name change proceedings. Without objections, the judge had no legal basis to deny the request.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s son Maddox has officially dropped “Pitt” from his last name

Two of Brad and Angelina’s children have legally made the change, while others have either started the process or chosen to use the Jolie name publicly pic.twitter.com/6aYQsl1sVK

— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) September 15, 2026

Maddox had filed his original petition in May 2026. As required by California law, he and his sister Zahara had both taken out newspaper advertisements announcing their respective petitions to change their names. This newspaper publication requirement exists to give any potentially affected party the opportunity to raise objections before the court acts.

Page Six obtained the court documents confirming the change. TMZ, which first reported the news, confirmed that “no objections” were lodged.

When Maddox filed his petition in May, he listed the reason for the change as “personal.” He did not elaborate further in court or in public statements.

Also Read: Alan Ritchson and Catherine Ritchson Marriage Split After 20 Years Together

Brad Pitt’s Reaction to His Children Dropping His Name

Brad Pitt has not made a direct public statement about Maddox’s name change specifically. However, multiple sources close to the actor have spoken to entertainment outlets about his emotional state as his children have systematically removed “Pitt” from their identities.

After Shiloh’s name change was approved in 2024, a source told Us Weekly: “Brad was devastated by this choice. To him, it was more than a change of name. It was a symbol of a deeper estrangement that has been brewing for years.”

A separate insider told the outlet: “Brad’s putting on a brave face, but behind closed doors, he’s finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with losing his children.”

When Maddox filed his petition in May 2026, another source told Us Weekly that Pitt’s “biggest fear is being permanently disconnected from his kids.” The same source said Pitt “wishes his relationship with his children were different.”

A source told People in 2024 that Pitt was “aware and upset” about Shiloh’s name change, adding: “He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter. 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.”

Sources close to Pitt have consistently pointed to Angelina Jolie as having influenced the children’s decisions to distance themselves from their father. TMZ reported that “sources close to Brad blame Angelina for pushing the kids away from Brad over the years.” Jolie’s representatives have not publicly responded to these characterizations.

How Every Jolie-Pitt Child Has Handled the Name Question

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox. As of September 2026, four of the six have publicly moved to drop “Pitt” from their names, and two of those changes have been legally finalized.

Jolie-Pitt Children: Name Change Status (September 2026)

Maddox (Age 25)

Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox from an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia, in March 2002, when he was seven months old. He was originally named Rath Vibol. Jolie changed his name to Maddox Chivan, with “Chivan” being a Cambodian name meaning “life.” Brad Pitt formally adopted Maddox in 2006, and the child’s name became Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt.

Maddox is the only child who was old enough to be directly aware of the events surrounding his parents’ 2016 separation. He was 15 at the time and was reportedly present during an incident on a private plane that Jolie later cited as a catalyst for filing for divorce. Maddox has since built a working relationship with his mother on her films, serving as an assistant director on Couture and working on both Maria and Without Blood.

Shiloh (Age 19)

Shiloh filed her name change petition on her 18th birthday, May 27, 2024. She hired her own attorney, Peter Levine, and paid for the process herself. The petition was granted in August 2024 after the required newspaper publication and a delayed hearing caused by an incomplete background check. She has since adopted the professional name “Shi Jolie.”

Zahara (Age 21)

Zahara began publicly using “Zahara Marley Jolie” when she introduced herself during her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority initiation at Spelman College in June 2024. She was later listed under that name during her Spelman graduation ceremony. She and Maddox both published newspaper advertisements for their name change petitions in the summer of 2026. Her hearing is scheduled for September 2026.

Vivienne (Age 18)

Vivienne first dropped “Pitt” publicly in May 2024, when she was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for The Outsiders, the Broadway musical she co-produced with her mother. She filed a formal legal petition shortly after turning 18 in July 2026 and completed the newspaper advertisement requirement at the end of August 2026. Her hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2026.

Pax (Age 23) and Knox (Age 18)

Neither Pax nor Knox has publicly indicated plans to drop “Pitt” from their names. However, all six children are reportedly estranged from their father. Pax was involved in a serious electric bike accident in Los Angeles in July 2024, hitting a car at an intersection. Pitt was not publicly reported to have visited Pax during his recovery, though sources told TMZ that he was “aware” of the accident and “concerned.”

The Jolie-Pitt Divorce and How the Family Fractured

The public dissolution of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s relationship has been one of the most extensively documented family separations in Hollywood history. Here is a condensed timeline of the key events.

Jolie-Pitt Relationship and Divorce Timeline

The September 2016 plane incident has been a focal point of the family’s fracture. Jolie alleged that Pitt was physically and verbally abusive during the flight, with Maddox reportedly intervening. An FBI investigation was opened but later closed without charges. Pitt has denied the allegations. The incident remains a deeply contested event in the family’s history, with differing accounts from the two sides.

In the years since, Jolie and the children relocated, and Pitt’s contact with his children has reportedly diminished significantly. The divorce was not finalized until December 2024, more than eight years after the initial filing. A separate legal battle over the couple’s French winery, Chateau Miraval, continued in parallel, with Pitt suing Jolie over the sale of her share to a third party.

How the Legal Name Change Process Works in California

For readers unfamiliar with the process, California has specific legal requirements for adult name changes that explain why these changes take months to complete.

California Adult Name Change: Step-by-Step Process

• Step 1: File a Petition for Change of Name with the Superior Court in the county where you live. The filing fee is approximately $435.
• Step 2: Obtain a court hearing date, typically scheduled 6 to 12 weeks after filing.
• Step 3: Publish a notice of the name change in a local newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks before the hearing. This is a legal requirement to notify any interested parties.
• Step 4: Attend the hearing. If no objections are filed and the judge finds no improper purpose, the petition is granted.
• Step 5: Obtain a certified copy of the court order and update identification documents (driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, etc.).

In the case of the Jolie-Pitt children, each has followed this process individually. Shiloh hired her own attorney, Peter Levine, and paid for the process herself. Maddox also retained Levine. The fact that no objections have been filed in any of the granted petitions means the name changes have proceeded without legal challenge.

Brad Pitt had no legal ability to block the petitions, as the children are all legal adults. A name change for a minor would require both parents’ consent, but adult petitions require only the absence of objections from any party.

Maddox’s Growing Career Working Alongside His Mother

Beyond the name change, Maddox has been building a career in filmmaking through his work on Angelina Jolie’s projects. His professional trajectory provides context for the decision to align his professional identity entirely with his mother’s name.

Maddox Jolie: Filmography

At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, actress Salma Hayek Pinault, who starred in Without Blood, praised both Maddox and Pax for their professionalism on set. She noted the respect they earned from the crew, suggesting that the brothers’ presence was treated as legitimate work rather than celebrity nepotism.

Maddox’s transition from “Maddox Jolie-Pitt” to “Maddox Jolie” in his professional credits preceded the formal legal filing, indicating the name change reflected a personal decision that had already been made before the legal process began.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Did Maddox officially drop Brad Pitt’s last name?

Yes. On September 14, 2026, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved Maddox’s petition to change his legal name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. No objections were filed.

How many Jolie-Pitt children have dropped Brad Pitt’s name?

As of September 2026, four of six children have publicly moved to drop “Pitt.” Maddox and Shiloh have legally completed the change. Zahara and Vivienne have filed petitions with hearings pending. Pax and Knox have not publicly indicated name changes.

How did Brad Pitt react to his children changing their names?

Sources close to Pitt have told Us Weekly and People that he is “devastated” and that his “biggest fear is being permanently disconnected” from his children. He has not made a direct public statement about any individual name change.

When was Maddox adopted?

Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox from an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia, in March 2002. He was seven months old. Brad Pitt formally adopted him in 2006.

When did Shiloh change her name?

Shiloh filed her petition on her 18th birthday, May 27, 2024. The change was granted in August 2024. She now goes by Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, professionally using “Shi Jolie.”

Who is Maddox’s lawyer?

Maddox is represented by attorney Peter Kenneth Levine, who also represented Shiloh during her 2024 name change.

Can Brad Pitt block these name changes?

No. All of the Jolie-Pitt children who have filed are legal adults. An adult’s name change petition in California requires only the filing of paperwork, publication of a newspaper notice, and a court hearing. A parent has no legal standing to block an adult child’s name change.

When did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie divorce?

Jolie filed for divorce on September 19, 2016. The divorce was officially finalized in December 2024, more than eight years later.

Also Read: Tawnia McGeehan Addi Smith Case: Autopsy Reveals Drugs at Murder-Suicide Scene

Last Updated on September 15, 2026 by 247 News Around The World