Madonna "On The Very Cusp" of Adopting a Girl

Madonna is set to adopt for the second time, it has been confirmed.

The 'Material Girl' hitmaker -- who turns 50 later this week -- has renewed her bid to care for three-year-old Mercy James now that her marriage to movie director Guy Ritchie is back on track.

Malawian officials say the star and her husband are now "on the cusp" of completing the adoption process.

The famous couple began the process to adopt David Banda from Malawi in 2006 before it was finalized earlier this year.

Penstone Klembe, Malawi adoption minister, tells British newspaper The Sun, "Madonna's representatives have been visiting the girl. The adoption is now advanced — all the government is waiting for is Madonna to forward the petition of adoption formalities.

"Then Mercy will be able to leave the country for a new life."

According to friends, Madonna and Guy renewed their bid to adopt the toddler after working to save their marriage following rumors the singer was having an affair with New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez.

One pal said, "The adoption process in Malawi is so long and stressful that all the legal wrangling put a huge strain on their marriage.

"They dropped proceedings to pour all their energies into each other. But Madonna now feels they are stable enough to press ahead with the adoption again."

However, Mercy's family are said to oppose the adoption.

Her grandmother, Lucy Chekechiwa, 60, said she has been asked repeatedly by officials if Mercy could be adopted by an "unidentified foreign family" -- but was firmly against it.

She said, "We know that it is Mercy who Madonna really wants. We heard it is because my granddaughter is such a beautiful, happy child.

"Twice I have told the adoption people that I do not want Mercy to go outside the country.

"But they keep on at us. Now they say that Mercy will be leaving us, but can return at age 18. Yet I might not be alive then."

The couple's original bid last year was dropped after the girl's uncle, John Nglanade blocked the application.

As well as David, Madonna and Guy have an eight-year-old son, Rocco, and Madonna has an 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship.