I live in NC and have 3 kids. My two daughters are from one man and my son is from someone else. I have been remarried for four years to the man my kids love and call daddy. He wants to adopt them and they want it too but I don't have alot of money. My question is can we do this without a lawyer (I will explain both situations) and how likely is it that a judge would allow it and will it cost me alot of money.

Okay, my daughter are 14 and 15. The last time there father saw them was 14 years ago. He is almost 16,000 behind in child support. He has only paid about 8 months out of all that time. They don't want anything to do with him and as I said don't even know him. The last time I knew where he live he was in Clover, SC and that was years ago. He signed a paper saying that he gave me full custody and didn't want any rights when I was pregnant with the youngest but it is just handwritten and isn't notarized or anything.

My son's father was abusive and has been to jail several times for it. Once even after we were seperated. He used to go stay with his dad every other weekend because he loved him and I wanted to them to have a realationship. He was remarried and his wife would make sure my son was safe. They have since divorced. My ex hasn't tried to have any communication with my son in about 2 years and just barely pays child support. 2500 behind. He lives in SC and doesn't come around at all. He is an alcoholic and my son doesn't want to have anything to do with him because he (as my son puts it) just keeps on breakin his heart and he can't take it no more. He wants my husband to adopt him and uses my husbands last name on anything he can as his own.

Can we petition for adoption without a lawyer, what are the chances we would get it and will it be expensive? My oldest daughter really wants it to happen before she gets her license so she can have Davis for her last name on there.

I do understand that these procedures can be quite expensive but you cannot let your husband adopt without an attorney. You *might* be able to get the fathers to sign over their rights without an attorney if they are both WILLING; however, if they're not willing, you're going have to go to court (which you will have to do anyway for the adoption) and get an attorney for that too. My best advice so it is all done proper is get one attorney for the termination of rights and adoption.

The entire process runs $1500-$2000 at the cheapest. We're getting a loan for ours so that is my best advice.

On the up side, there are federal and state tax breaks for adoption that you may apply for depending on your tax situation, so if you spend money, then you should get a tax benefit from it that may help out since adoption is encouraged.
Given the complexities of your situation, I think an attorney is warranted. If you are poor or of low income, contact Legal Services or a state or local bar association to see if an attorney can take your case pro bono (free) or based on a sliding scale fee.