Title IV-D, Fraudulent Service, and the War on Fathers: My Case Against the System
For nearly two decades, I have been fighting a system that destroys families, strips fathers of their rights, and hides behind fraudulent paperwork to keep federal dollars flowing. My case is not just personal—it is a window into how Title IV-D funding has corrupted the courts and turned due process into a revenue stream.
The Beginning: Fraudulent Service in Family Court
In 2007, my case began in the Worcester Probate and Family Court, Massachusetts under docket number WO07D1562DV1. What should have been a straightforward process was instead built on sand. The court and state agencies relied on fraudulent service of process documents—returns of service that were incomplete, contradictory, or stamped “COPY” with no proof of actual service.
Without lawful notice or personal jurisdiction, the court proceeded anyway. Orders were entered. Income withholding began. And behind the scenes, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue was able to claim federal incentive payments under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, which rewards states for aggressive child support collections.
The Money Behind the Fraud: Title IV-D Incentives
Most people don’t realize this, but 42 U.S.C. § 658a establishes a system of bonuses for states based on how much they collect in child support. Billions of dollars are at stake nationally.
This means the state has a direct financial interest in creating and enforcing child support orders—whether or not those orders are legally valid. In my case, the fraudulent service documents were the key. Once the court could pretend it had jurisdiction, every dollar taken from me became a dollar that helped Massachusetts secure federal reimbursements and incentive funding.
The Cost: Families and Fathers Destroyed
The human cost is staggering. For me, it meant:
Losing my home as wages and assets were seized.
Losing access to my children because orders were enforced before I had any chance to be heard.
Losing years of career advancement due to wage garnishments, IRS lock-ins, and the stigma of being labeled “non-compliant” under a void order.
And I am not alone. Across the country, thousands of fathers face the same fate: fraudulent or defective service, rushed hearings, and orders that become impossible to challenge. The system profits off of broken families.
Taking the Fight to Federal Court: The Path Forward
I am now pursuing relief in federal court, where I have filed:
Van Etten v. Fattman et al., No. 4:24-cv-40113-MRG (D. Mass.) – A § 1983 civil rights action exposing the fraud and seeking to halt ongoing enforcement of void orders.
First Circuit Appeal, No. 25-1095 – Challenging the district court’s handling of my constitutional claims.
Emergency Petition for Mandamus, No. 25-1852 – Asking the appellate court to compel the district court to rule on my Rule 60(b)(4) motion, which argues the underlying state orders are void ab initio due to lack of service and jurisdiction.
The record is clear: certified documents from the Massachusetts Probate Court confirm that the service papers relied upon were fraudulent. This is not a mere “technical defect.” Under U.S. Supreme Court precedent (Peralta v. Heights Medical Center and Espinosa v. United Student Aid Funds), a judgment without proper service is void and cannot be enforced.
Why This Matters
This case matters because it is not about relitigating custody or family disputes. It is about whether our courts can bypass due process in order to secure federal funding.
If fraudulent documents are enough to justify garnishing wages, seizing tax refunds, and locking fathers into a cycle of debt and punishment, then no one is safe. Due process is supposed to be the safeguard that ensures government power cannot be abused. But Title IV-D has turned children into a pretext, and fathers into cash machines.
The Path Forward
Through my litigation, I aim to:
Expose the fraud behind Title IV-D enforcement.
Restore constitutional limits on state power, reminding the courts that jurisdiction cannot be manufactured.
Build awareness so other fathers know they are not alone, and that there is a legal path to fight back.
This fight is far from over. But the record is now clear: the state has been enforcing void orders for years, and the federal courts must act.
Call to Action
If you are a father facing similar circumstances, know this: you are not alone, and you are not powerless. Document everything. Demand certified copies of your court records. Challenge fraudulent service. And remember that due process is not optional.
This battle is about more than one family. It is about whether America’s courts can sell out fathers and families for federal cash.