After twenty months of hearings, a high court in the Africa nation of Malawi have approved and finalized pop star Madonna’s controversial adoption of toddler David Banda.

“We are very happy with what the judge has ruled. It is a positive and beautiful judgment that will have an impact on Malawi’s adoption laws…..Finally the court has granted Finally the court has granted Madonna full adoption rights of the boy – it’s a long judgement but I am quite happy with it,” the singing star’s lawyer Alan Chinula said in statement Wednesday.

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie welcomed a then-thirteen month old David into their home in October 2006, sparking criticism that the impoverished nation’s government had bypassed laws banning non-residents from adopting children in Malawi.