USING INDIRECT METHODS TO DETERMINE INCOME AND CASH-FLOW

Commissioner Denise Motter

Denise Motter was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in Oregon. She returned to Southern California to attend California State University at Long Beach, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. After college, she pursued a career in accounting, passing the Certified Public Accountants Examination and practicing for ten years as a Revenue Agent/Tax Auditor for the Internal Revenue Service. Changing careers, Commissioner Motter joined the Santa Barbara District Attorney — Family Support Division while attending Santa Barbara College of Law at night, securing her Juris Doctorate degree and passing the bar in 1992. Thereafter, she practiced Family Law in the private sector for eleven years, becoming a Certified Family Law Specialist in 2002, serving as president and treasurer for the Northern Santa Barbara County Bar Association, and becoming a partner in the Santa Maria firm of Kirk & Simas. In 2006, she was appointed as the Family Law Facilitator for Northern Santa Barbara County and subsequently appointed as the Family Court Commissioner for Santa Barbara County in 2010.

Many self-employed individuals keep accurate records of their income and cash flow. However, those who don’t keep good records can be a challenge for those attempting to determine guideline child support and other financial issues in Family Law matters.

Each Bench Officer brings his/her life experience to the Bench. My career includes ten years with the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Agent/Tax Auditor. During those years, I also passed the Certified Accountants Examination and audited thousands of tax returns.