Brad Pitt is facing another painful development in his fractured family life after his youngest daughter, Vivienne, moved to legally remove his surname.
The 18-year-old’s court filing follows similar steps by several of her older siblings, deepening the public impression of a widening divide between the Oscar winner and the six children he shares with ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt has filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court asking to become Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.
The filing lists her reason for seeking the change as “personal,” without offering any further explanation.
A hearing has been scheduled for November 2, when the court is expected to consider the request.
Vivienne, who turned 18 this year, is the youngest of Pitt and Jolie’s six children and was born in 2008 alongside her twin brother, Knox.
Her decision is particularly significant because it moves beyond the informal use of a shortened name and places the matter before a judge.
Representatives for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have not publicly addressed the filing.
Vivienne Had Already Distanced Herself From Brad Pitt’s Name
The court petition was not the first indication that Vivienne no longer wanted to be publicly identified by her father’s surname.
In May 2024, she was credited as Vivienne Jolie in the Playbill for the Broadway production of “The Outsiders,” which she worked on alongside her mother.
At the time, it was unclear whether she had legally changed her name or was simply using Jolie professionally.
Her new petition answers part of that question by showing that she now wants the change formally recognized.
Vivienne’s work on “The Outsiders” also marked a rare public professional appearance for the teenager.
Jolie served as a lead producer on the Tony-winning musical, while Vivienne was credited as a producer’s assistant and frequently appeared with her mother during the production’s promotional run.
Brad Pitt Reportedly Finds The Family Rift ‘Deeply Painful’
Vivienne’s filing arrives as Pitt continues to face questions about his relationships with his children following his long and bitter separation from Angelina Jolie.
A source recently told the Daily Mail that Pitt views the estrangement as “deeply painful” and “believes Angelina’s role in how things unfolded is the ultimate betrayal.”
Those claims have not been publicly confirmed by Pitt or Jolie, and the children have largely avoided discussing their relationships with their father in detail.
However, the repeated decisions to stop using Pitt’s surname have kept the family divide in the spotlight.
For the actor, Vivienne’s move may be especially difficult because she is now the latest of his children to pursue a formal break from the Jolie-Pitt name that once symbolized one of Hollywood’s most famous families.
Zahara And Maddox Also Move To Drop Pitt
Vivienne’s petition comes only weeks after Zahara, 21, and Maddox, 24, published legal notices announcing their own efforts to remove Pitt from their surnames.
One notice stated, “Petitioner Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie.”
The second read, “Petitioner Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie.”
Their hearings are scheduled separately, with Maddox due in court on September 14 and Zahara on September 28.
Zahara had already introduced herself publicly as Zahara Marley Jolie during a 2023 sorority ceremony at Spelman College. Maddox, meanwhile, reportedly filed his petition in late May.
Their legal notices confirm that both are now seeking court approval rather than simply using different names socially.
What Happens Next In The Jolie-Pitt Name Cases?
California law requires adults seeking a legal name change to publish an Order to Show Cause in a newspaper for four consecutive weeks before their hearing.
The notice allows anyone with a valid legal objection to appear and explain why the request should not be granted.
In most uncontested adult name-change cases, judges approve petitions when the required paperwork and publication rules have been satisfied.
The court hearings for Maddox, Zahara, and Vivienne will therefore determine whether their requested names become official on government records.
Shiloh Jolie already completed that process after filing to remove Pitt from her surname when she turned 18. Her lawyer later described the move as an “independent and significant decision following painful events.”
With multiple children now taking the same legal step, the surname issue has become more than a private family matter.
It is now a visible symbol of the lasting fallout from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce and the unresolved fractures that continue to surround their family in the public eye today.
