A new advocacy organization is changing how self-represented fathers approach custody litigation by providing practical court-readiness tools instead of legal advice. Fathers for Integrity, Reform, and Equality (F.I.R.E.) has supported more than 20,000 fathers and children across the country since launching just one year ago, offering documentation templates, evidence organization systems, and procedural guidance to families navigating the family court system.
The organization was founded by Conrad Stough, a USIDHR-certified human rights and children's rights expert who identified recurring procedural patterns during his own custody case. What he discovered became the foundation for F.I.R.E.'s approach: many fathers lack basic knowledge about court procedure, documentation requirements, and how to present facts effectively when representing themselves.
"We're not providing legal representation," the organization clarifies. "We're offering court-readiness resources and procedural education that help members understand what to expect, how to organize their evidence, and how to follow proper court procedure."
Beyond Awareness to Action
What distinguishes F.I.R.E. from traditional advocacy groups is its dual focus on immediate practical support and long-term systemic reform. Members receive filing checklists, hearing-prep workflows, and documentation frameworks designed to help them present their cases clearly and maintain proper records of verifiable events and procedural issues.
The organization then aggregates anonymized case-pattern data and converts it into reform proposals shared with policymakers, attorneys, and other stakeholders. Current reform priorities include stronger enforcement of parenting-time orders, improved safeguards against weaponized process abuse, and child-centered standards that recognize both parents' relationships as critical to child wellbeing when both are fit and capable.
F.I.R.E. operates through a three-tiered approach: equitable time-sharing arrangements, equal enforcement of rights for both parents, and strict accountability for false allegations in court proceedings. The organization emphasizes that while it advocates for fathers' rights and procedural fairness, its primary focus remains on children's best interests.
Recognition and Growth Plans
Stough's work has been featured in more than a dozen magazines and appeared on over 20 podcasts, expanding public education on fathers' rights and procedural fairness in family court. He was nominated for an international philanthropy award recognizing impact and service.
Looking ahead, F.I.R.E. plans to scale its operations into a national resource hub while formalizing its reform pipeline through published pattern briefs and policy recommendations. The organization is also building a research and assistance team of trial-ready professionals, including licensed attorneys, to help fathers pursue lawful remedies when rights are harmed through documented misconduct or procedural failures.
The organization's long-term objective is straightforward: create a more balanced, accountable family court environment where decision-making is impartial, restrictions are supported by evidence and law, and enforcement is consistent. For families currently navigating custody disputes, F.I.R.E. offers donation-based access to practical documentation tools and hearing preparation systems designed to help them present their cases effectively while protecting meaningful parent-child relationships.
