Urgent help needed about child custody - Washington

I need to know in the state of Washington if the parents were never married, no custody orders or support orders ever drawn up. The child has lived with the mother all his life, the father has always paid support for him and all living expenses for him and his mother. The parents have not been together for at least five years and the child is six. The mother droppped the child with the father almost a week ago. The father wants custody of the child. Does he have a legal right to keep him and not give him back to the mother if and when she shows back up?

[AFFA]

I wish to inform you that in Washington the mother may have child custody because in case of unmarried couple the child relates to mother. In case the father wishes to have child custody then he will have to file for custody in court. In this regard, the court will consider the best interest of the child and will then determine the child custody. Further, payment of child support and having child custody are two different aspects. A person may be liable to pay child support even if the parent does not have child custody because child support is for the upkeep of the child. Further father may have to prove paternity in court.

AFF

He can go to court and try but he will not prevail. He will get visitation.

If he signed the Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital when the child was born, you are going to find it's a civil matter and that he has every right to keep the child with him. The police can't do anything either.

Custody matters should have been ironed out before you dropped your child off with him. He can keep the child, say mom abandoned the child, and file Ex Parte Emergency Custody.