Brad Pitt to Adopt Angelina's Kids

UPDATED 12/05/2005 at 08:30 AM EST • Originally published 12/02/2005 at 11:20 PM EST

Brad Pitt has started the process to adopt Angelina Jolie's two kids, the actor's publicist said in a statement to PEOPLE.

A legal petition to change the names of the children to Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt was filed in Los Angeles, according to publicist Cindy Guagenti.

"Brad Pitt is in the process of becoming the adoptive father of both children," Guagenti said in the statement.

There are no plans for marriage at this time, she added.

Jolie, who is a single mom to Maddox, 4, and Zahara, 11 months, told PEOPLE at the first annual Worldwide Orphans Foundation benefit on Oct. 24 that she wants to adopt again.

"I'm planning on it," Jolie said. "Most of the night I just thought about how quickly I want to adopt again. It's a very special thing. There's something about making a choice, waking up and traveling somewhere and finding your family."

Recently, Pitt and Jolie traveled together to Pakistan, to witness the ravages of the earthquake there.