A California judge has officially approved the petition filed by 21-year-old Zahara Marley Jolie to legally remove “Pitt” from her last name, formalizing a legal shift that establishes her identity across all state records. The daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt now legally carries the Jolie name alone, following the entry of court documents granting the order.
The formal ruling concludes a process that unfolded over several months in the Los Angeles court system. While the public identity change had already surfaced during her academic career, the court order cements the modification into official vital records.
Zahara Jolie and mom Angelina Jolie on red carpet
The Legal Procedure Behind the Name Change
The journey to alter a legal surname in California involves strict statutory steps that go far beyond personal preference. Zahara Marley Jolie signed her initial petition dated April 28 before submitting the paperwork to the court in June.
To satisfy California legal requirements, petitioners must provide public transparency regarding the pending decree before a judge signs off on the final paperwork.
- Petition Filing: Initial court submission executed to request the formal deletion of the surname.
- Public Notification: Publication of the pending name change notice in a designated local newspaper, completed through the Los Angeles Daily Journal.
- Judicial Approval: Final court review and formal entry of the decree establishing the new legal name.
Filing a petition in California requires fulfilling formal legal public notice mandates before a judge can issue a final decree.
A widespread misconception assumes that dropping a surname socially or on campus immediately updates an individual’s legal status. In reality, informal introductions hold zero legal weight until statutory publication and formal judicial approval take effect.
Angelina Jolie and her kids on red carpet
Public Milestones Prior to Judicial Sign-Off
Before the court confirmed the legal transition, Zahara consistently chose to identify without her paternal surname in public settings. When she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College in 2023, she introduced herself publicly using the name Zahara Marley Jolie.
The choice remained prominent throughout her university milestones. During her college graduation ceremony, school officials announced her name from the stage as Zahara Marley Jolie, showcasing the public alignment with the name long before the bench issued the decree.
Status Across the Jolie-Pitt Siblings
Zahara becomes the third child in the family to legally sever ties with the Pitt surname through the court system. The move follows formal actions already completed or currently pursued by several of her siblings.
| Family Member | Current Legal Name Status |
|---|---|
| Maddox Jolie | Legally removed Pitt from surname |
| Zahara Marley Jolie | Legally approved to drop Pitt |
| Shiloh Jolie | Name change petition granted |
| Vivienne Marcheline Jolie | Petition filed; court hearing scheduled |
| Pax | Shared sibling with no public filing reported |
| Knox | Shared sibling with no public filing reported |
Zahara Jolie and mom Angelina Jolie on red carpet
Shiloh had her legal petition granted in 2024, initiating the wave of documented changes. Maddox finalized his legal separation from the surname in a separate proceeding, while Vivienne’s formal hearing to register as Vivienne Marcheline Jolie is set for November 2.
π‘ The legal confirmation officially codifies the personal and academic identity Zahara Marley Jolie established during her college years.
π As sibling hearings continue through the California legal system, family records continue to reflect these independent adult petitions.
π Leave your thoughts in the comments below about how legal identity transitions impact high-profile families.
