So Scott you are saying if there are no legal papers/court orders that the mother can just take the kid and leave the state and the mother can not get him for kidnapping? I personally would make the guy sign something legal just to be on the safe side
Whether the court was involved or not.
Why do I often hear of situations of where the mother and father verbally agree outside of the court to have joint custody and the father takes off with the kid(s) and gets in trouble for kidnapping?

If I remember correctly I told someone they could leave but to protect their self they should get a notarized paper from the other parent stating they wouldn't go after them for leaving and you gave me a red mark stating that they had to go through the court.