Yes you need to get a lawyer. I don’t like running to lawyers for every little thing but in this case it is clear that you’ll be needing one. Why don’t you have one already? Are you trying to be “nice”? This is your child’s future on the line, f*** being nice. If he had custody I’d tell him to do the same.
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war! (lawyers heh heh)