My son's father passed way almost two years ago. I just remarried and my new husband wants to adopt my son. My new husband has been taking care of my son like his own for a year now and my son just adores him and all ready calls him "Dad". We live in Illinois and just wanted to know where we should start? Do we have to have an attorney to start the proceedings?

An attorney would be a good idea. Is your son's father's family still involved in his life? They may want some reassurances that the adoption won't cut them out completely, if so.

How does your son feel about it?

It should be a fairly easy process, but I'd never tell anyone to do an adoption without a lawyer just to make sure there's no way for it to be overturned.