Brad Pitt faces fresh family blow as daughter clears major hurdle to drop his last name
Brad Pitt's family divide continued to play out in court as newly obtained records showed daughter Zahara cleared a key legal hurdle in her bid to officially remove the actor's last name.
The proof of publication, obtained by Fox News Digital, confirmed Zahara's petition had been published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal on June 16, June 23, June 30 and July 7.
California generally requires publication of an Order to Show Cause before a court grants a name change, and this filing certified that requirement was satisfied.
Anyone who wishes to object to the notice must file at least two court days before Zahara's scheduled hearing on Sept. 28. No objection has yet been recorded.
The latest filing comes as those close to the family say the fractured relationship between Pitt and his children has only deepened over the years.
"This is what happens after years of one parent turning the kids against the other," a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital. "It's a painful outcome, but not a shocking one."
Zahara filed to formally remove "Pitt" from her surname in June. If granted, her legal name will change from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie. Her name change follows Shiloh's name change in 2024.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Pitt's relationship with his children has allegedly been strained since the "Bullet Train" actor and Angelina Jolie first began their divorce proceedings in 2016.
At the time, Jolie cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for her split from Pitt and requested sole custody of all six children they share.
In May 2021, a private judge ruled Pitt and Jolie would share custody of their children 50/50. Pitt and Jolie share six children; Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox and Vivienne.
All the children are over 18 years of age at this point, with twins Knox and Vivienne celebrating their birthday on July 12.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Pitt has been accused of allegedly abusing Jolie and their children. During a 2016 fight, Pitt allegedly "choked one of the children and struck another in the face" and "grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her," according to court documents previously obtained by Fox News Digital. He then poured "beer and red wine" on her and their six children.
"Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop," according to the documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. "They were all frightened. Many were crying."
Jolie filed for divorce days after the alleged altercation.
A source familiar with the matter previously told Fox News Digital the claims made by Jolie were false and that the actress "continues to rehash, revise and re-imagine her description" of the alleged event by "adding completely untrue information each time she fails to get what she wants."