My son has a 3 year old son and is living with the child's mother. He wants to separate from her (they are not married), but he is so afraid that she might take off with him and leave the state. He is laid off at the time & takes care of him most of the time. They have two completely different ways of parenting. He is very close to his son and would be devastated if she had full custody, as he would worry about the care he would get. We need to know what his rights are as a father, where do we start and can she take him out of the state. He called a few lawyers to try to get some sort of answers & all everyone wants to do is put him in the system . Thanks

He needs to hire an attorney,
1. is he on the birth certificate
2. if not has paternity ever been proven.

Those questions may effect what extra has to be done, but he files for custody ( or joint custody) he asks the court to order her to stay within the state, or even stay within a certain area in the state.

She can only do what the court orders he can get will allow.

There is no reason he can't get at least joint custody.