Maddox Jolie: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s eldest son legally drops his father’s surname
The family fracture in the Jolie-Pitt clan continues to make headlines. Recently, it has been confirmed that Maddox, the eldest son of the former acting couple, has completed the legal process to remove his father’s surname, Brad Pitt, officially identifying himself as Maddox Chivan Jolie. This decision was supported by a ruling from the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The young man, adopted by Angelina Jolie in 2002 and subsequently by Pitt, thus follows a trend that has gained momentum among his siblings. Maddox and his sister Zahara formally initiated the process last July, complying with the legal requirements demanded in California, which include the publication of a notice in public media regarding the intention to modify their identity.
A trend that is spreading among siblings
The distancing from the paternal surname has been progressive within the family nucleus. Shiloh was the first to take the legal step upon reaching the age of majority in August 2024, changing her name to Shiloh Jolie. Other family members have joined her with similar actions:
- Vivienne: The young woman chose to use only the surname Jolie in the credits for the Broadway production “The Outsiders,” where she collaborated with her mother.
- Knox: He appeared as Knox Jolie on his recent graduation certificate, although it has not been confirmed if he has initiated a formal legal process for the name change.
- Pax: Currently, he is the only one of the siblings who maintains the hyphenated surname Jolie-Pitt, and reports indicate that he retains ties with some people close to his father’s family.
The separation of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, initially announced in 2016, concluded its legal divorce process in 2024, leaving behind a complex family landscape with their six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.
Representatives for the actor have previously noted that the relationship with his adult children is practically non-existent. In the case of the younger children, Knox and Vivienne, communication has been different, although both have recently reached the age of majority, coinciding with this period of transformations in the family’s legal identity after years of media conflicts.
