Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Daughter Vivienne Becomes Fourth Child to Drop Actor’s Last Name

Court Approves Legal Name Change for Vivienne Jolie

In a formal legal decision at the Los Angeles Superior Court, a California judge has approved an official petition submitted by Vivienne, the 18-year-old daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, to drop her father’s surname. Following a hearing on November 2, the teenager’s legal name has officially been transitioned from ‘Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt’ to ‘Vivienne Marcheline Jolie’.

According to court documents, Judge Virginia Keeny granted the requested modification without challenge. As reported by Page Six, Judge Virginia Keeny told the Los Angeles Superior Court: There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted. The formal order confirmed the finalized status of the paperwork, stating: The Decree is signed and filed, the order adds. The Petitioner’s name is changed from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.

Shifting Dynamics Among the Jolie-Pitt Siblings

Vivienne originally submitted the filing in July, citing the reason for the surname modification as ‘personal’. With this ruling, Vivienne becomes the fourth child in the family to formally or publicly step away from their father’s surname. She joins her siblings Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh, all of whom have chosen to take only their mother’s last name. In total, Brad Pitt, 62, and Angelina Jolie, 51, share six children: Maddox, 25, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 18.

Angelina Jolie has previously spoken about supporting her children through their personal decisions and individual journeys. I have six very individual human beings in my home. I am so excited about all the different stages and feelings and curiosities that they go through. Why wouldn’t you be? Jolie told PEOPLE in 2021. We’re supposed to help them figure out who they are. And you can’t figure out who they are if you don’t enthusiastically develop with them.

Divorce Settlement and Prolonged Legal Standoff Over Château Miraval

The familial shift follows years of high-profile legal battles between the former Hollywood couple. Angelina Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, just two years after their wedding, alleging an abusive incident involving Brad Pitt and one of their children during a private flight. Following the allegations, both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) launched investigations into Pitt; both entities subsequently closed their inquiries without filing any charges. While Jolie and Pitt were granted a legal divorce three years later, disputes over asset division and child custody prolonged their negotiations until reaching a settlement in 2024.

Despite settling the primary components of their divorce, Pitt and Jolie remain embroiled in an active legal battle concerning the French winery Château Miraval. Pitt sued Jolie in 2022 after she sold her 50% stake in the $164 million estate to Tenute del Mondo—the wine division of the Stoli Group, owned by Yuri Shefler—alleging the sale violated a mutual agreement not to sell without consent. Jolie countersued, claiming Pitt engaged in a vindictive campaign against her following their 2016 separation.

A California court and an appeals court have handed down a series of decisions in favor of Pitt. These rulings include ordering depositions from Stoli Group and Tenute del Mondo executives, as well as reviving claims against Yuri Shefler in California. Pitt’s legal team has also pursued access to Jolie’s financial and tax records dating back to 2017, which Jolie’s attorneys have contested on grounds of personal privacy as the multi-party litigation heads toward trial.

Why This Matters

Vivienne Jolie’s court victory underscores an ongoing pattern among the adult Jolie-Pitt children to distance their legal and public identities from Brad Pitt as they reach adulthood. On a broader level, the high-stakes dispute surrounding Château Miraval illustrates the enduring complexity of celebrity asset division. Because substantial business holdings and third-party commercial entities like Tenute del Mondo are involved, the civil fallout from Pitt and Jolie’s 2016 split continues to shape precedent regarding cross-border corporate transactions, shareholder agreements, and financial discovery in California courts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Vivienne’s new legal name?

Vivienne’s legal name was changed from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie following an approved petition at the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Which of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children have dropped the Pitt surname?

Four of the former couple’s six children—Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne—have opted to use only the Jolie surname.

What is the status of the ongoing lawsuit between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?

Although their divorce settlement concluded in 2024, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie remain engaged in active litigation over the $164 million French winery Château Miraval, with proceedings moving toward a trial involving third-party buyers.