Fame PicturesHere's hoping the Malawi adoption process for single mothers runs a little more smoothly than it does for married superstars.
Clearly undeterred by her controversy-mired 2006 adoption of son David Banda with then-husband Guy Ritchie, officials have confirmed that Madonna is headed back to the African country to adopt a second child.
A Malawi welfare department representative says Madonna has already filed adoption papers in the country and that her adoption case could go before the courts as early as Monday.
Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, had no comment on the reports, though the 50-year-old singer is due to arrive with David in Malawi within the next few days.
"We expect her over the weekend or earlier than that…but without a doubt she is coming before the end of this month," an official from the nation's Ministry of Gender and Child Development told Reuters.
David's headline-grabbing birth father, Yohanne Banda, also confirmed to the news agency that he was informed his son would be arriving shortly.
"Someone from Raising Malawi visited me last week and told me that my son may be visiting me sometime next week," he said. "I am delighted, I want to see my son."
As for Madonna, who already has three children, rumors have been swirling for some time that she was looking to adopt again, possibly a second daughter.
Earlier this month, the superstar spoke out to Malawi's local Nation newspaper and did nothing to stop the rumors.
"Many people—especially our Malawian friends—say that David should have a Malawian brother or sister," she was quoted as telling the paper. "It's something I have been considering, but would only do if I had the support of the Malawian people and government."
While she and Ritchie were granted custody of David back in 2006, his adoption was only just finalized last year.
(Originally published March 26, 2009, at 8:38 a.m. PT.)