Your Honor,

I am 67 years old. Before retiring, I worked as a carpenter in Cummings Properties. 

For nearly 20 years, I paid $497 per week in child support with no delay. In total, I paid over $435k. The Department of Revenue enforcement case was closed in 2023 with 0 arrears.  

What remains are attorney’s fees now claimed over $519k, which exceeds the total child support I paid by more than $84,000. This huge attorney fee was not caused by unpaid child support, but from Motion for Modification. 

Your Honor, my W-2 reported wage never exceeded $70k. At that time, I was not aware of how much was being taken from my wages, whether it was 43% withheld or later unlawful 72% garnishment. I filed the motion for modification because I was facing financial hardship. For 20 years, I faced bank overdrafts, foreclosure notices, electric shutoff, and out of oil for home heat. That is why I rent out rooms in my home. 

However, in 2010, the Court labeled my motion for modification as “frivolous” and ordered me to pay attorney-fee. As a result, I have had 65% wage garnishment since 2012. 

Further, from 2016, Attorney Altman imposed unlawful 72% wage garnishment, which reduced my take-home pay to $5.39 per hour. Although Judge Randy Kaplan denied Attorney Altman’s motion to shift my dental insurance and medical FSA from pre-tax to post-garnishment, that shift was later enforced anyway, resulting in the unlawful 72% garnishment. 

Specifically, the dental insurance covered my children. 

In addition, Attorney Altman took 100% of my Christmas bonus, and Judge Kaplan ordered it to be returned. They also filed a motion to collect my room rental, which I relied on to avoid foreclosure. Judge Gibson denied that motion. 

After Judge Kaplan ordered my employer to return my bonus, I experienced retaliation and ultimately lost my carpenter job after 10 years of employment. During the 10 years, my wages went from 43% withholding, to 65% garnishment, and finally to the unlawful 72% garnishment.  

Your Honor, even the fee was labeled “frivolous” or “in the nature of child support,” it did not come from unpaid support enforcement.

Two judgement liens are already attached to my home.

Today, my Social Security is $1,648 per month.  My room rental is fully consumed by mortgage and utilities.  Based on my 2025 budget, my net income is $765 per month.  

If 65% of my Social Security were garnished, I would be left with a negative monthly income of $305. It would take 40 years to pay back the fee.

Your Honor, I loved my ex-wife and we adopted two children from South Korea. I did not expect a no-fault divorce when my son was only 3 years old.  I never remarried, and remained devoted to the children, paying support until they became adults.

Attorney Altman now seeks to garnish my Social Security, putting my home at risk. Federal law protects Social Security benefits. Even if some fees were once labeled in nature of support, there is no ongoing support obligation — only secured liens against my home.

I cannot find any federal or state case law allowing Social Security to be garnished for attorney’s fees when there is no ongoing support obligation. 

I respectfully ask the Court to deny the garnishment.

—---------—   Thank You, Your Honor

Child support is $71/day = $497 / 7days (a week);The annual support is $25,915 = 365 days x $71;

—---  My business was running only for 3 years and was not stable. After the divorce, I lost family support, and the divorce process consumed most of my energy. I could not continue running the business, which is why I closed it. Without W-2 records, it was no way to prove my actual income. 

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Attorney Altman engaged in an excessive and disproportionate divorce case. They hired someone to follow me from Wayland to Ayer, Woburn, and Gloucester, issued 35 subpoenas including requests for my cell phone records, and presented overwhelming information at trial. The trial lasted 4 days and resulted in a decision that appeared punitive. 

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The clarification order was drafted by Attorney Altman and specifically used the terms “frivolous” and “in the nature of child support,” which Judge Gibson later signed.  

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Attorney Altman portrayed me as a wealth builder. In fact, as a carpenter for 10 years. My reported W-2 wages never exceeded $70k: $62,950 in 2009, $68,545 in 2010, $59,764 in 2011, and $62,677 in 2012.

—----------  The retaliation included: sent me to far-off job-sites, poor performance review, 72% garnishment, not invited to a christmas party, and termination.   

—----  termination for 2-holes plug v. 3-holes plug etc.