Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s effort to legally remove “Pitt” from her surname has now moved into a stage that most people outside the court system rarely see.

The 18-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed a petition in Los Angeles County on July 21 requesting that her legal name be changed from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.

But filing the paperwork was only the beginning.

Court documents obtained by PEOPLE show that Vivienne then had to complete a formal publication requirement by placing notice of the proposed name change in the Los Angeles Daily Journal — not once, but four separate times.

The notices appeared on July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14.

Now, with that step documented, the next major date is already on the calendar: a court hearing scheduled for November 2.

And despite the public attention surrounding the Jolie-Pitt family, one important detail remains easy to miss.

Vivienne’s name change has not yet been granted.

Why Was the Notice Published Four Times?

To many celebrity watchers, the most surprising part of the process may be the newspaper notices themselves.

A legal name-change petition is not always simply a matter of filling out a form and receiving approval.

In Vivienne’s case, the court records show that proof of publication was required, meaning public notice of the requested change had to appear in an approved publication.

That is why the same basic legal notice appeared repeatedly in the Los Angeles Daily Journal over several weeks.

The four documented publication dates were July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14.

The process provides formal public notice that someone has asked the court to change a legal name and gives interested parties an opportunity to object before a judge makes a decision.

For a family whose names have been followed in headlines for years, the notices turn what might otherwise sound like a symbolic personal decision into a very specific legal procedure.

Vivienne is not simply using a different surname publicly.

She is asking a court to make the change official.

What Happens If Someone Objects?

The court process also includes a mechanism for objections.

According to the documents cited by PEOPLE, anyone seeking to oppose Vivienne’s requested name change must submit a written objection at least two court days before the hearing.

An objecting party would also be required to appear in court.

That means the November 2 hearing represents more than a ceremonial final step.

It is the point at which the court can consider the petition and any properly submitted opposition before deciding whether to approve the change.

There is currently no indication in the information made public that an objection has been filed.

But until the court rules, Vivienne remains legally Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt.

Her requested name — Vivienne Marcheline Jolie — is exactly that for now: a request.

Vivienne Gave a Very Brief Reason

The petition does not appear to offer a detailed public explanation for why Vivienne wants to change her surname.

Her stated reason is simply:

“Personal.”

That one word leaves plenty unanswered, particularly because of the intense public attention surrounding Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and their children.

But it is also notably restrained.

Vivienne is not using the petition to publicly describe family disputes or make allegations. Based on the information contained in the court filing, she is asking for the change without expanding on her motivation.

That distinction matters.

The legal record establishes what she wants her name to become.

It does not establish every personal reason behind that choice.

She Had Already Been Using “Vivienne Jolie”

The legal petition did not come completely out of nowhere.

Vivienne had previously been credited professionally as Vivienne Jolie in connection with the Broadway production of The Outsiders.

Angelina Jolie served as a producer on the musical, while Vivienne worked on the production as an assistant.

The shortened name attracted attention at the time because it did not include “Pitt.”

Still, using a professional name and legally changing a surname are not the same thing.

The July petition represents a formal request to make “Vivienne Marcheline Jolie” her legal name.

That is what makes the publication records and upcoming hearing significant.

They show the process moving beyond a Playbill credit or public-facing choice and into the court system.

She Is Not the First Jolie-Pitt Child to Reconsider the Family Name

Vivienne’s petition is also receiving additional scrutiny because other children in the family have made similar choices regarding their names.

Her sister Shiloh took formal legal action in 2024 to remove “Pitt” from her surname.

Other siblings, including Zahara and Maddox, have also been publicly associated with the use of “Jolie” without “Pitt” in different contexts, and the family’s surnames have increasingly become a subject of public interest.

That history means Vivienne’s case will inevitably be viewed alongside the choices of her siblings.

But each legal petition stands on its own.

Vivienne is now 18 and is pursuing her own request through the court.

The documents identify the name she wants and the procedural steps she has completed.

Anything beyond that requires caution.

The Timing Draws Attention to the Family Again

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have remained subjects of intense public interest long after their relationship ended.

Their children grew up under an unusual level of attention, and decisions that would be private for most families can quickly become international entertainment news when the Jolie-Pitt name is involved.

A surname change is particularly likely to generate speculation because names can carry emotional, familial and public significance.

But the court process is much narrower than the speculation surrounding it.

The current facts are straightforward.

Vivienne filed her petition on July 21.

She is asking to become legally known as Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.

The required publication notices appeared four times.

A hearing is scheduled for November 2.

And the court has not yet approved the request.

November 2 Is the Next Key Date

Unless something changes beforehand, the November hearing will be the next major step in the case.

The court can then address the petition and any objections that have been properly filed.

Until that happens, reports that Vivienne has already legally “dropped Pitt” would be premature.

She has taken significant steps toward doing so, but the process is still underway.

That is what makes the repeated newspaper notices more than a curious detail.

They are part of the legal path required before the name on the petition can become the name recognized by the court.

For years, the Jolie-Pitt surname has carried enormous public recognition.

Vivienne is now asking to change hers in one very specific way.

And after four public notices, the next decision belongs to a judge.