Pitt to adopt Jolie's children

Angelina Jolie with adopted son Maddox. Picture / Reuters

Brad Pitt has filed legal papers in Los Angeles to adopt the children of Angelina Jolie, according to Life & Style magazine, which saw the move as a step towards the couple marrying.

Pitt, 41, has filed to become the legal adoptive father of Jolie's two children, Maddox, 4, and Zahara, 10 months. They would go by the surname Jolie-Pitt when the legal steps were completed, the magazine said, quoting a representative of Pitt.

Jolie adopted Maddox from Cambodia and Zahara from Ethiopia.