Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s eldest son, Maddox, has officially dropped ‘Pitt’ from his surname.A Los Angeles judge approved his petition to change his name during a hearing on Monday, September 14. The court has officially allowed the 25-year-old to legally take the name ‘Maddox Chivan Jolie’.

Maddox drops ‘Pitt’ surname

Maddox had filed the petition in May, citing ‘personal reasons’ for the requested change. Much before the court allowed him to drop his surname, the young assistant director had already begun using ‘Maddox Jolie’ professionally. His updated name even appeared on the credits of his mother’s film ‘Couture’.The name change was approved after the required legal process was completed and no objections were raised at Monday’s hearing. Maddox’s decision makes him the latest of Jolie and Pitt’s children to legally distance themselves from their father, by dropping the “Pitt” surname.

Maddox and siblings drop ‘Pitt’ surname

Maddox’s younger sister Shiloh legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie in 2024, shortly after turning 18. Zahara has also begun the legal process to change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie, with her court hearing scheduled for September 28.Meanwhile, Vivienne has taken legal steps to change her name to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. She has completed the required newspaper-publication process, with her hearing scheduled for November 2.While several of the children have increasingly used “Jolie” publicly, the legal changes have taken place separately and should not necessarily be interpreted as a collective decision.

Brad Pitt blame Angelina Jolie for distancing children

According to TMZ, sources close to Brad Pitt have blamed Angelina Jolie for allegedly pushing the children away from their father over the years, since they parted ways in 2016 after Jolie filed for divorce.Although they were declared legally single in 2019, their divorce proceedings were not fully resolved until a settlement was reached in December 2024.

Angelina Jolie prepares for a new chapter outside the US

Maddox’s name change comes days after Jolie spoke about her plans for a new chapter in her life. In an interview with L’Officiel, the actress discussed her plans to spend more time outside the United States. “It’s the end of a certain time for me,” Jolie said in the interview.“I’d like to have a home base for my family, a place where some of the mom stuff and the family photos are. And then I’d like to be a bit nomadic for a while,” she told L’Officiel. Jolie also shared plans to live at her home in Cambodia which will serve as a residence for part of the year.