Why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Daughter Shiloh's Name Change Was Published in a Newspaper, According to a Legal Expert

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's public name change announcement in a newspaper “could not have been avoided” for the process to move forward, a legal expert tells PEOPLE.

According to California-based family law attorney David Glass, the 18-year-old’s petition to drop "Pitt" from her last name — which was recently published in The Los Angeles Times — follows legal regulations that such filings must be printed in a newspaper before the official name-change process can move forward to its next steps.

“In reality, it could not have been avoided,” Glass tells PEOPLE. “... She has to file a formal petition with the court to change her name. And she has to run an ad 4 weeks in a row before the hearing is scheduled, in addition to giving both of her parents written notification.”

“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," he continues.

Glass adds, “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.”

Shiloh filed for the name change — to become Shiloh Jolie — on her 18th birthday on May 27. 

According to California law, the legal forms must be published in a newspaper for one month before a judge can approve the petition.

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Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 60, share six kids: Maddox, 22, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, Pax, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.

Shiloh’s name change petition comes after a source close to the family recently told PEOPLE that Pitt has "virtually no contact" with his adult kids, but still has visitation with his younger children, following his split from Jolie in 2016. 

"He has virtually no contact with the adult kids. His engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule," the source said, referencing Pitt being in Europe to film his upcoming racing movie F1.

“[Angelina] has the kids most of the time, but per their agreement, he has visitation with the younger kids," they add.

After Shiloh’s filing in May, a source told PEOPLE that Pitt is "aware and upset" about the change.

“He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name,” the insider 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."

The source added that the distance from his children "pains him.”