Do you need an attorney to adopt a child from the state?

My husband and I are interested in adopting an older child. We live in Dalla and we’ve located several children on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange who might be available for adoption. If we pursue one of those children, will the state represent us or do we need our own attorney? Does Texas offer any adoption subsidies or assistance if we adopt an older child with special needs? We are also told that a child of a certain age has to consent to the adoption. If they don’t want to be adopted, is it possible we could take custody without a formal adoption? And if we do need a lawyer, how do we locate one with experience in state adoptions or custody?