Alleged Deadbeat Dad Trying To Keep Millions From Daughter

BOSTON -- An alleged deadbeat dad apparently trying to prevent his own daughter from dipping into his multi-million dollar inheritance has been blocked from keeping all his cash by a Massachusetts judge.

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Amanda Chesterton's father, Glenn, is set to inherit a $2 million trust fund, his ex-wife Katherine says. Under current law, the courts cannot dip into the money to cover the $400,000 he owes in back child support for his 12-year-old-daughter.

It's a battle that will end up in court. Katherine says she will not easily give up the fight to get Amanda's father to support his daughter.

"I'm strong enough to withstand the battle and I'm just not going to sink," she said in a phone interview from Vermont.

She said her ex-husband first fled to the Turks and Caicos islands to avoid paying child support and is now trying to block her daughter's access to the trust fund.

"I'm going to stand for what's right," Katherine Chesteron said.

Katherine Chesteron said her former husband is avoiding supporting his child by using the Massachusetts law's "Spendthrift Provision," which blocks creditors -- including child support collectors -- from touching a trust fund.

Katherine's attorney's think her case could change the law.

"Certainly, it is not legitimate to use a trust to avoid a child support obligation," attorney Brian Bixby said, arguing that child support creditors deserve preferred status because of a parent's obligation to their child.

"We don't want to see an individual like this benefit from a beneficial interest either in a trust, or any asset for that matter, while he or she is not upholding his or her obligation to support a child," attorney Jeffrey Soilson said.

On Thursday, a judge ordered an injunction that temporarily blocks the trust fund from going to the father until the case is resolved. Katherine Chesteron's attorneys hope the move gets state legislators to reconsider the law that provides a blanket protection for trusts from all creditors.