I am not quite sure where to post this but I do need some advice. I have a two-year-old daughter. Her father is in Canada. He recently broke up with me after he had cheated on me. I moved back in with my parents here in the States to help me start over.

However, my stepfather and I had an argument and he got violent with me. I feel the need to move out of here as soon as possible because I do not feel safe here with my stepfather anymore, especially with my daughter.

I thought of taking my daughter to her father in Canada and leave her with him for a while, so I can take care of finding a place for me and her, then arranging for her child care, and getting a part time job (because I'm taking some classes right now).

Now, I'm wondering if my ex can refuse to give my daughter back to me when I go and get her. We were never married. He is not on the birth certificate of our daughter because he was abroad when I gave birth and we didn't get a chance to sign a paternity affidavit.

The child support papers are still in process, which I'll have to put a hold on if and when I take my daughter to him. He never really tried to fight me for her custody, but I'm not sure he'd feel the same way after spending time with her (we'd been in a long-distance relationship for a year waiting for my and our daughter's papers to go through so we could go and live with him in Canada, but then he cheated on me and decided to break up with me).

I'm worried that he might not give me our daughter back once I leave her with him. Is it possible? If we sign some type of papers saying that our daughter is only to stay with him temporarily, would that work?

Any thoughts or advice would really be appreciated. Thank you.