'Painful' reason Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh decided to ditch her dad's last name

Shiloh Jolie's attorney has spoken out amid his client's application to drop her father's name from her surname.

Shiloh is one of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's six children. The celebrity couple were together for twelve years, but filed for divorce in 2016, just two years after tying the knot.

Over the course of their years-long relationship, they welcomed three biological children, and share three adopted children as well.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were together for over a decade. (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

All of them have the surname Jolie-Pitt, but upon her 18th birthday Kung Fu Panda 3 star Shiloh filed a motion to remove her father's moniker.

According to insiders, Bullet Train actor Pitt is 'upset' by his daughter's decision.

"He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter," a source said.

"The reminders that he’s lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad."

Pitt and Jolie's ongoing divorce battle has been far from amicable, with Jolie coming forward with domestic abuse allegations against her ex husband in recent years.

The accusations - which Pitt has always denied - are believed to have cause him to become estranged from their children.

Brad Pitt pictured with his kids Pax, Shiloh and Maddox in 2014. (JB Lacroix/WireImage)

There's been a lot of noise following Shiloh's filing, with some suggesting that the teenager took out an apparent advert to announce the news of her intentions; but her attorney had now denied this.

Peter Levine said, as per People: "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. That legal notice was published in the Los Angeles Times, as is required."

If approved Shiloh would only bare her mom Angelina Jolie's maiden name. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

He added: "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."

As per the California Court, if a person wishes to change their legal name there are four steps they must follow. First is to file a petition with the court, which then has to be followed by a four week-long notice published in a newspaper.

Step three is to attend a hearing (if required), and the fourth and final step is to get your decree if a judge approves your request.