[gmadson]

I have 3 children from a previous marriage. My current husband and I have known each other for 10 years. My ex-husband was hardly around after our divorce and the children seldom saw him. My current husband was the only stable father figure they had and consider him to be "Dad". He would like to adopt them but my ex-husband will not allow it. Hiring a lawyer is too expensive for us, is there a more affordable way?

[threeandmore]

If your exhusband is contesting, I would STRONGLY urge you to not try to do this without a lawyer - it would be an uphill battle even with an attorney. Termination of parental rights can be done without the bioparent's consent - usually for abandonment, which is defined differently in each state. But even if he has met the criteria for abandonment, he would have to be notified of the court proceedings, and if he shows up in court it is up to the judge if he gets another chance or not. Please remember that most judges do not terminate someone's rights to their children lightly, so if your ex is going to fight you, a good attorney would be invaluable.

If your ex has a change of heart and decides to cooperate, there are more affordable ways to proceed. When it's just a matter of getting the appropriate paperwork done, many people hire a paralegal to make sure it is done correctly, or many choose to do it themselves with a little research.

I hope this was helpful. Good luck!