Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's eldest son, Maddox, has reportedly officially removed his father's surname from his legal name. This marks another significant development in the long-running story surrounding the former Hollywood couple's family.
According to reports published on Monday, 14 September 2026, a Los Angeles County judge approved Maddox's request to change his name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. The decision comes almost exactly 10 years after an incident aboard a private plane that contributed to the breakdown of his parents' marriage.
A Change in Name
The name change had reportedly been in progress for several months. Maddox filed the request in May 2026, seeking to remove 'Pitt' from his surname. Before the legal process was completed, he had already begun using the name Maddox Jolie professionally, including in the credits for Couture, a film directed by his mother.
Maddox reportedly worked as an assistant director on the project. The film stars Jolie as an American filmmaker who travels to Paris during Fashion Week after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. His professional use of the Jolie surname preceded the court's approval of his legal request.
A Decade After the Private Plane Incident
The timing of the decision has drawn attention because it follows the 2016 private plane incident involving Pitt, Jolie and their children.
In September 2016, Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt shortly after a flight from France to Los Angeles. Allegations of Pitt's behaviour towards Jolie and the children subsequently became part of public investigations and legal disputes.
The FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services investigated the incident. Pitt denied allegations of wrongdoing, and authorities did not bring criminal charges against him over the episode. The FBI later closed its investigation without pursuing charges.
Jolie and Pitt's divorce was finalised in December 2024, following years of legal proceedings and disagreements involving custody, finances and their former jointly owned winery, Château Miraval.
However, the end of their marriage did not bring an immediate conclusion to public interest in their family relationships.
Maddox Follows Earlier Family Name Changes
Maddox is not the first of Jolie and Pitt's children to stop using the Pitt surname.
In August 2024, their daughter Shiloh legally changed her name from Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie. The decision was widely reported at the time, although neither parent publicly provided a detailed explanation for it.
Other siblings have also reportedly used the Jolie surname in professional or public settings. However, the legal status of every reported name change is not necessarily the same.
Maddox's decision represents a personal legal change, rather than proof that every member of the family has formally removed Pitt from their names.
No Public Explanation From Maddox
Although the timing has encouraged speculation about the relationship between Maddox and his father, there is no verified public statement from Maddox explaining why he chose to change his name.
For now, the documented development is that Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt has reportedly become Maddox Chivan Jolie following court approval.
The decision adds another chapter to the highly scrutinised history of one of Hollywood's most famous families, while highlighting how the children's individual choices continue to attract public attention long after their parents' divorce.
