Angelina Jolie Escapes Adoption Ordeal  10/27/05

Angelina Jolie is sighing with relief after an Ethiopian judge ruled she is the legal guardian of baby daughter Zahara.

The actress feared she'd have to refile paperwork when the alleged mother of the little girl, who was believed to be dead, came forward to thank Jolie for giving her child a better life.

Under Ethiopian law, the adoption papers needed to be refiled because details given about the baby's mother were incorrect.

But Judge Dadmachew Tesfaye, who investigated the case, has declared Jolie did nothing wrong and the baby in now legally hers.

He says, "The adoption is legal and still stands. The evidence presented to the court shows the child was an orphan. That is sufficient."

Jolie adopted baby Zahara in June (05).