Custody and the lack of a marriage certificate

[perth]

I have a close friend whose long-term relationship just fell apart. They had a child together. They never married but have been living together for probably two years now.

She is now moving in with her parents and they (the bitch and her parents) are telling him that he will only be allowed to see the boy on supervised visits. Short of getting a lawyer and taking it to court, does anyone happen to know anything he can do to ensure he has proper fathering time with his kid?

For what it's worth, he lives in Utah. I understand they are (were?) a very "fuck you, dad. Kid needs his mom!" state.