A recent court ruling has marked a significant development in the ongoing family dynamics of Brad Pitt and his children. Los Angeles High Court Justice Virginia Keeny has granted a petition filed by 18-year-old Vivienne Jolie, allowing her to officially change her surname to Marcheline Jolie. This decision aligns with a precedent set by her older brothers, who had previously adopted their mother's surname.
A court application filed by Vivienne on July 20, just eight days after she reached the age of majority, cited personal reasons for the case, despite aligning with a long-held public stance she had expressed.
Vivienne Jolie made her Broadway debut in May 2024 as a credited cast member in the musical "The Outsiders," working closely alongside her mother, actress Angelina Jolie.
Vivienne has officially become the fourth family member to disassociate herself from Pitt's surname, following a formal process. The procedure was first initiated by Shiloh, who began the process at the age of 18 in May 2024. Building on the judicial precedents set by Maddox and Zahara, who also changed their surname to Jolie's, Shiloh's move has now been followed by Vivienne, solidifying her official name change to Jolie.
The couple's other two children, Knox and Pax, have also maintained a level of separation from their father's surname and public life. Knox has chosen not to include his father's surname in academic records, while Pax has kept a low public profile for several years, with no reported instances of legal action taken in his name.
The couple's divorce process reached a significant milestone, occurring nearly two years after Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt finalized their divorce in December 2024. Their separation in 2016 had led to eight years of litigation, which was resolved when they were declared single in 2019.
A long-standing dispute over the ownership of the French vineyard Château Miraval remains unresolved, with ongoing court proceedings to settle property claims.
