Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Shiloh has dropped Pitt from her last name “following painful events”, it has been revealed.

The former star couple have five other children alongside the teen, who filed for the name change on her 18th birthday, May 27.

The alteration was announced with a legally obligated public notice in the Los Angeles Times shortly after her move.

In a statement on Monday (US time), Shiloh Jolie’s lawyer Peter Levine called it a “significant decision” and said care was needed when reporting the change, stressing the teenager did not take out an “ad” to publicise it.

“The media should be more careful in their reporting, especially when covering a young adult who has made an independent and significant decision following painful events, and is merely following legal process,” Levine said.

“Shiloh Jolie did not take out an ‘ad’ announcing any name change, and any press reporting that is inaccurate.

“As Shiloh’s attorney, I am required to publish a legal notice because the law in California requires that of anyone who wants to change their name.”

His comments echo those made by California family lawyer David Glass, who told People the public name-change announcement could not have been avoided.

“She has to file a formal petition with the court to change her name, and she has to run an ad four weeks in a row before the hearing is scheduled, in addition to giving both of her parents written notification,” Glass said.

“These name change petitions usually run very smoothly and are granted, unless the person has a criminal history and is trying to get away from punishment or liabilities … [I’ve] never seen one opposed in court.

“Brad could come to court and say, for example, that Shiloh has been alienated against him by the mother. But because she is no longer a minor, she can essentially call herself whatever she wants.”

Angelina Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 60, split in 2016. She filed for divorce soon after, following allegations of a violent altercation on a plane.

A source told People that Fight Club actor Pitt, who is dating businesswoman Ines de Ramon, 31, has “virtually no contact with the adult kids”.

As well as Shiloh, they are Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

Another insider told the outlet Pitt “still loves all of his kids tremendously”.

Pitt and Jolie were declared single in 2019. But their divorce settlement is still not final, with the former couple unable to agree on lingering issues.

Custody arrangements for the younger children are believed to be part of the ongoing disputes.

“Although, we don’t really know what the status of [the custody dispute] is,” lawyer Kara Chrobak told Fox News Digital in the US last week.

“Oftentimes, parties who are embroiled in a really contentious custody dispute can end up having that dispute last a long time, especially when it’s going up on appeal and when orders are being set aside for various different procedural reasons.”

Pitt was awarded 50/50 custody of the children in 2021, but Jolie fought the ruling. It’s unclear where the issues of custody are now, with only twins Knox and Vivienne still minors.

-with AAP