She's using my son to control me. legally, what can i do?

My ex came back into my life five years after she left me. As it turns out, she'd had my child. She stayed with me for about five months, then she left, leaving him with me. Its been six months since he's seen her and neither him or I have ever been...

happier.

Now, his mother is back in the picture. First, she'd wanted to fight me for custody. When she found that I'm not the legal father and that I apparently have no legal rights to my own child, she decided that I can keep him.

She allegedly wants me to become the legal father but will only allow this to happen if I marry her.

If I contact another lawyer or attempt to bring it to court, she has promised me that she will take our son back (Which, according to the last lawyer I contacted, she has every legal right to do) and she will put him into an extremely dangerous living situation.

What options do I have?

So, you're saying you're not the biological father? If that's true, then unfortunately, the only way you can keep this child is to adopt him.

However, if you are the biological father and there is no current custody order in place, you don't have to let her take him. Without a custody order, neither you or her has the right to keep him. Of course, she can take him if she sees you out in public, but she can't enter your home and take him.

There's apparently a difference between being the biological father and the legal father.

I think we have some serious flaws in our system on that front.

lets see...OK! you asked! I take it you ARE this childs BIO/LEGAL dad. Correct? Why dont you contact your local child protective services. Now I am NOT a huge fan of these folks but if she really has left this child with you as stated for over six MONTHS with no contact or care?? that is what I am guessing you could say child abandonment. You dont NEED to take a DNA test if for SURE this IS your child. You just go to your local health dept. or even your local child support enforcement office and you sign a form stating you ARE the biological father. WHALLAH!! NO legal expenses really. Then of course you CAN take this woman to court after getting CPS to help you obtain temporary custody and sue her for child support. I am NOT a biatch, trust me. LOL!!! I have the EX FROM HELL!! five custody battles...yeah...he really is a champ!!!LOL Family court is one big BONANZA MONETARILY!!! The judge gets paid, the lawyers...OH! brother!! THEY REALLY GET PAID!!! the court clerk, the other workers, blah blah blah...CHAAA CHING!!! MONEY...MONEY!!! and they LOVE CHILD CUSTODY SUITS!!! OH YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!! I have had and will continue to have full custody of my son but all the false allegations and lies said about me in court have destroyed not only my name but my credit as well. I call family court KANGAROO COURT. You gotta know how to play the game my friend.
Your ex is a dummie alright! you do know you LEGALLY have every right to visitations with your son even WITHOUT custody?? its the law.
I SWEAR TO GOD WOMEN LIKE THAT MAKE ME SOOO MAD!!! it makes all us SINGLE MOMS look or ASSUMED to be like that WITCH!!! and for sure I have NEVER used my child as a weapon against the dad. Sadly its been the other way around. Check out some of the fathers rights web sites in your area as they help a lot of single dads. I do wish you all the best with this WITCH and the HORRIFIC way she has treated not only you but this wee one!!!