Why this exists
No child should lose their father because he ran out of money.
Support groups on Facebook, Instagram and elsewhere can offer community, advice and understanding. Fathers facing an active divorce case involving child custody may also need help with a pressing problem: the financial cost of staying involved in their case.
Who can receive support
Check eligibility first.
Only fathers with an active divorce case involving child custody may be approved to receive support. You must be a father, your divorce case must be active, and child custody must be part of that divorce case.
Standalone custody or paternity cases, separation without an active divorce case, and completed divorces do not qualify. Check this before applying or paying the applicant fee. Creating an account or paying does not establish eligibility.
The need
Financial support for the next step.
Legal bills and case-related expenses can drain savings, build debt and push a father toward financial ruin. When the money runs out, even taking the next step in a case can feel out of reach. DadsFight exists to help fathers facing that strain ask for practical financial support.
An eligible father can describe his situation, list the costs connected to his active divorce case involving child custody, and choose how his request appears publicly. Contributors can read those details and decide whether to support him.
Supporting documents are provided privately for review. Case numbers and filings are not part of the public request.
Timing matters
Help before the next deadline.
A hearing, trial, filing deadline or overdue bill can make the timing of support critical. Fathers can share the dates they want supporters to see, including rent, eviction and legal fee deadlines. Approved requests with the nearest upcoming dates appear first in the default browse order. Past dates remain part of the timeline, but do not receive an approaching-deadline boost.
Urgency does not replace eligibility review or guarantee funding. Public timelines show the event type and date; court records and case details stay in private review.
Fathers helping fathers
You can need help and still offer it.
This starts with fathers standing beside other fathers in the same situation. Share a request, offer encouragement or contribute when you can. You do not have to donate to take part, and receiving support never requires helping someone else first. Friends, family and other supporters are welcome to help too.
The costs
Make the request specific.
The application helps eligible fathers build an itemized budget and explain how the requested support relates to their active divorce case involving child custody. Every cost category is subject to that same requirement; selecting a situation does not make an otherwise ineligible case qualify.
A reviewed request is not a prediction of a court decision. Approval and contributions do not guarantee funding or a legal outcome.
What we do
Prepare, verify, and submit for review.
The application process includes:
Check 1: Identity verification
Applicants complete the Stripe Identity flow. The application uses Stripe's verification result before allowing submission for review.
Check 2: Private supporting evidence
Applicants provide court documents supporting an active divorce case involving child custody, evidence relevant to the requested costs, and an itemized budget. Reviewers access those files through an audited process; the files are not published with the request.
Check 3: Submission and review
The one-time $20 platform fee is required before submission. A reviewer checks eligibility and the application, and may request more information before deciding whether to approve it. Paying the fee does not guarantee approval or funding.
Contributions are processed through Stripe Connect for the father named in the request. A 5% platform fee applies to contributions. Payment processing and bank payout are separate steps; a completed contribution does not mean a bank deposit has completed.
What we don’t do
We are not a charity, an advocacy group, or a legal service.
We review applications against the eligibility requirements. We don’t write checks from a pooled fund. We don’t lobby, organize, or fight cases. We don’t take a side in any case.
We provide a place to publish approved support requests and receive contributions. Fathers remain responsible for their cases and decisions about legal representation.
Common questions
Receiving support and joining the community.
Can I apply for a custody case outside a divorce?
No. Child custody must be part of an active divorce case. A standalone custody or paternity case, or a dispute after a completed divorce, does not qualify.
Can I join or contribute if I do not qualify?
Yes. This rule applies to receiving support. You can still join the community, use the resource library or support an approved request. You do not need an account to contribute.
Receiving support
A contribution receipt is not a bank payout.
Bank payout timing depends on verification, account readiness, provider availability, and the status of the funds. A request’s contribution total should not be read as the amount already paid to a bank account.
Review the contribution details and our Terms of Service for the platform fee policy. Contact support if a payment, refund, or payout needs review.
Read the cases. Decide for yourself.
Review the case context, budget, and verification status shown on a request before deciding whether to contribute. Case numbers and filings stay private to protect the family.