Brad Pitt faces adoption red tape

Hollywood star, Brad Pitt is facing a number of legal problems in his efforts to adopt actress Angelina Jolie's two children because he is not yet married to the actress.

The 41-year-old 'Mr & Mrs Smith' actor announced recently that he was in the process of filing for legal guardianship of Jolie's children, Maddox (4) and Zahara (11 months).

"We are confirming that Brad Pitt is in the process of becoming the adoptive father of both children,"a written statement by Brad Pitt's publicist Cindy Guagenti said. "No further comment is being made."

According to hollywood.com, the process involves a lot of paperwork, home supervision and a high fee. The actor could avoid it if he married Jolie.

"This is not the easiest way of doing things," says David Baum, president of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers. "Frequently what you do if you are in a relationship with someone and you want to adopt their children, you marry them and do a step-parent adoption. There are extra requirements when you are not related by marriage to the children you are adopting."

The adoption fee in Los Angeles is $775 and the process takes approximately three to six months. But since Pitt is filing as a second parent he has to pay $2,950 and face far more scrutiny.

And Pitt shouldn't expect star treatment reports USA today. "It isn't about how famous you are or how much money you have," Baum says.