A Los Angeles judge has officially approved Vivienne Marcheline Jolie's petition to remove the "Pitt" surname from her legal identity. This decision, finalized on Monday, November 2, makes her the fourth child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to undergo the process .
The four-week notice period in The Los Angeles Daily Journal
The legal process required Vivienne to provide public transparency through a series of advertisements. According to the report, the 18-year-old artist published notices in The Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four consecutive weeks between July 24 and August 14. This window allowed any potential dissenters to file written objections before the final hearing.
Attorney Peter Kenneth Levine appeared remotely via the LACourtConnect system to represent the petitioner. Because no objections were filed during the public notice period, the judge moved to sign the decree immediately. This legal mechanism ensures that the name change is transparent and free from undisclosed legal challenges.
Following the footsteps of Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh
Vivienne is the fourth child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to legally distance herself from the Pitt name. Her older siblings—Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh—have already completed similar legal transitions. As the report notes, Maddox and Zahara both published notices in June and July, with their respective hearings occurring on September 14 and September 28.
The children, who were born in 2008 and earlier, are now adults ranging in age from 18 to 25. This collective movement suggests a parallel shift in the family's public identity. By removing the shared surname, the siblings are effectively solidifying the distance between themselves and their estranged father.
What lies behind the 'personal' motivation?
Court documents filed in Los Angeles list the reason for this name change simply as "personal." This vague descriptor leaves several critical questions unanswered regarding the specific catalysts for the 18-year-old's decision. While the legal mechanism is clear, the exact nature of the rift remains shielded by privacy.
A source close to Angelina Jolie told People magazine that the actress is prioritizing the healing process for her children. the source further claimed that if the "full truth" were revealed, the public might view the situation with more sympathy. however, the report does not specify what these undisclosed truths are, nor does it provide a direct response from Brad Pitt regarding the specific legal filings.
Brad Pitt's reaction to the family rift
The legal severance marks a definitive shift in the family's public narrative. Brad Pitt has reportedly found the growing distance between himself and his children to be deeply painful. The report indicates that the actor views the role of Angelina Jolie in this separation as a significant betrayal.
Despite the emotional complexity, the legal actions taken by Vivienne and her siblings appear to be final. The transition from Jolie-Pitt to Jolie represents a formal conclusion to a long-standing period of family instability.
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