I am in Indiana. I just left my son's father this past weekend because he threw me around and choked me, nearly killing me. We were never married. He did sign the birth certificate at the hospital and our son has his last name. We have never been to court for anything. Our son is living with me. May questions are:
1. What rights does he have to our child? Could he just go pick him up one day and not give him back?
2. I don't want to get court ordered visitation b/c I would rather work it out between us and I dont care about child support, but how do I establish custody?

Please someone answer, I am lost right now. Thank you in advance.

First, report him for the abuse. You KNOW that is the right thing to do. Second, if there are no custody/visitation orders and it is established fact that he is the biological father, then he has the exact same rights to the child as you do. So, yes, he can pick him up. In order to establish custody, you must file in court. I don't know about Indiana, but when I was in NC, child support was established seperately from custody. And why wouldn't you want child support? It's for your son. He has a right to support from BOTH parents! :)

Thanks for replying. I did file a report. After it happened, I ran out of the house and drove to my parents house and called from there. Luckily my son was already staying there for the night. I guess I will have to call the court then to establish custody. I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to mess with any of that. I feel like I already have to do so much. Thanks again.