Well, like Denise Richards, it’s evidently complicated. Madonna’s adoption of 3-year-old orphan Mercy James has not yet been approved. The pop star spent an hour in court in the Malawi capital of Lilongwe on Monday where a judge delayed ruling on her adoption application until this Friday. No further court records of the proceedings are available but we understand that Madonna faces much opposition from multiple parties, including the child’s own grandmother, who has told Britain’s The Sun, "Why doesn't this singer pick other children? It is stealing. I want to go to court. I won't let her go." (It’s believed that Mercy’s teenaged mother passed away but her father is believed to be alive somewhere.) It is unknown if the grandmother was in court on Monday.

Also speaking out against the adoption are some children’s rights groups, from some who say the singer is using her wealth and influence to get around the normal Malawian 18-to-24 adoption period to children’s charity, Eye of the Child, who are upset about her divorce from Guy Ritchie. Director Maxwell Matewere says, "We should never allow our children to be placed into broken families."

It is unknown what additional information needs to be presented before Friday’s ruling but Madonna has brought her entire family with her to Malawi to go forward with the adoption. Our fingers are crossed for a peaceful resolution but it sounds like many are set on making this complicated for the Material Mom. We guess it’s just human nature.

Scoop courtesy of Us Weekly. Photo courtesy of Splash News.