If you want to adopt your wife's son do you need to hire an attorney if you live in Texas?

This would be a step-parent adoption, a fairly routine process, listed in the Texas civil code as:

"§ 162.001. WHO MAY ADOPT AND BE ADOPTED. (a) Subject

to the requirements for standing to sue in Chapter 102, an adult may

petition to adopt a child who may be adopted.

(b) A child residing in this state may be adopted if:

(2) the parent whose rights have not been terminated

is presently the spouse of the petitioner and the proceeding is for

a stepparent adoption;"

Many law firms handle this, and if the natural father contests the adoption, you will want legal help. Otherwise, you may be able to file the petition yourself at your local court house to get the process started. Contact a court to see if they have a "do it yourself" package of forms to use, many states do.