Brad Pitt’s family disputes are still causing waves in court. Recently released records show that his daughter Zahara has made significant progress in her legal effort to drop Pitt’s surname.
A document confirming Zahara’s petition appeared in the Los Angeles Daily Journal on several dates, including June 16, June 23, June 30, and July 7.
In California, courts typically require a show-cause order prior to granting a name change, and this application indicates that step has been completed.
Anyone who wants to contest the name change needs to do so at least two days before the scheduled public hearing on September 28. So far, no objections have been filed.
The filing comes amid reports that tensions between Pitt and his children have worsened over the years. A source close to the situation mentioned, “This is what happens when one parent keeps pushing the other against their children. It’s a painful outcome, but not unexpected.”
Zahara originally sought to have “Pitt” removed from her name in June. If the change is approved, her name will transition from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie. This follows a similar name change for her sister Shiloh in 2024.
Pitt’s relationship with his kids has been strained since he and Angelina Jolie began their divorce process back in 2016. At that time, Jolie pointed to “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the separation and requested sole custody of their six children.
A private judge determined in May 2021 that Pitt and Jolie would share custody equally. They have six children: Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivian. All the children are now over 18 years old, with the twins, Knox and Vivian, celebrating their birthdays on July 12.
Reports suggest that Pitt’s issues with the family could be connected to accusations of past abusive behavior during a 2016 incident. Allegedly, he “choked one child and punched another,” while also behaving aggressively toward Jolie. Some of the children reportedly pleaded with him to stop during the episode.
In the wake of those allegations, Jolie filed for divorce shortly after the confrontation. A source familiar with the case previously stated that Jolie’s claims are untrue and that she is continually altering her narrative to suit her needs.
