Zahara and Maddox Jolie publish newspaper ads to remove Brad Pitt’s last name
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children, Maddox and Zahara, have published legal notices in a Los Angeles newspaper to officially drop 'Pitt' from their surnames. This follows a similar move by their sister, Shiloh, as the family continues to navigate high-profile legal changes.
Why it matters
The public nature of these name changes highlights the intersection of celebrity family dynamics and California's specific legal requirements for name changes.
- 1.45am . First published July 13, 2026 - 11.10pm
Share article Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt ’s daughter Zahara and son Maddox have taken another step towards officially dropping Pitt from their names .
Maddox, 24, and Zahara, 21, now both have “proof of publication” confirming their intent to change their name, with legal notices published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal this month, People reported.
Angelina Jolie with her three eldest children, Pax, Zahara and Maddox, in 2024. Getty
This satisfies a quirk in California law that requires those wanting to change their name to publish it in a newspaper – a centuries-old legal tradition originally designed to prevent fraud.
Unlike in Australia, where name changes are handled quietly through state Births, Deaths and Marriages registries, California law forces the process through the court system and into the public eye.
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