team-member

Debra Ferwerda

N/A

Licensed for 25 years

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Divorce and separation

Language

English

About

Debra L. Ferwerda was born and raised in Tampa, Florida.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Communications from Florida State University.  She attended St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, where she served on the Law Review and later graduated with honors with a Juris Doctor degree. Ms. Ferwerda is a well-respected Central Florida Divorce and Criminal Defense Attorney who has earned a reputation for her integrity and no-nonsense approach inside and outside of the courtroom.  She gives all her cases the personalized attention they deserve and the hard work it takes to win.   From 1996 to 1999, Ms. Ferwerda was an Assistant State Attorney for the Orange and Osceola County State Attorney’s office where she received extensive trial experience in Felony and Misdemeanor divisions prosecuting cases from DUI to Murder.  In 1999, she resigned from the State Attorney’s office and became a founding member of Jacobson, Chmelir & Ferwerda where she now focuses on family law in addition to state and federal criminal defense.   Ms. Ferwerda’s extensive criminal trial experience has carried over to her marital and family law practice where she has tried numerous highly contentious cases throughout Central Florida.  Since the inception of JCF in 1999, her family law practice includes but is not limited to divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, alimony, injunctions, contempt hearings, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and post divorce modification and enforcement.  Whatever your family needs, she gives all her cases the hard work it takes to achieve a favorable outcome, whether through negotiated settlement, mediation, or trial if needed, in addition to the compassion and understanding needed to keenly assess each client’s situation. At JCF, Ms. Ferwerda has also continued to expand her criminal trial experience and has represented and defended clients from charges including Murder, Drug Trafficking, Sexual Battery, Home Invasion Robbery, Grand Theft, Fraud, Violations of Injunction, Probation Violations, as well as numerous other criminal charges.  Ms. Ferwerda has represented thousands of clients in the State of Florida, and has had well over 100 jury trials in her criminal trial experience.  She has also had an extensive, successful Motion Practice including numerous successful Motions to Dismiss and Motions to Suppress at the County and Circuit Court levels.  No matter what your need is, Ms. Ferwerda will provide you with the care and competence you deserve. * Ms. Ferwerda gained local notoriety after successfully defending a Warlock motorcycle club member in a triple homicide in 2014. See article – Warlocks murder suspect found not guilty

Practices Areas

Criminal Defense

Child custody

Divorce and separation

Language

English

Contact

Jacobson Chmelir and Ferwerda351 E State Road 434 Ste AWinter Springs, FL, 32708-2648

Office: (407) 794-7531

Website: N/A

Reviews

anonymous
November 29, 2021

Debra Ferwerda led my case to victory! She was there to guide me and had all the knowledge to help me with the hardest time of my life. When I had the weight of the world on my shoulders Debra was there to take the weight off and give me hope. I could not have asked for a more compassionate, understanding, and knowledgeable lawyer than Debra. She is amazing and has a ton of experience, I highly recommend her! Thank you so much Debra!

Tiffiny
November 29, 2021

For most divorcees this process can be sad/hard. Debra and her team immediately put me at ease from the initial consult all the way till the very last days of the process. Debra was not only compassionate but extremely professional and her client control is on point. She was direct with me on the law so that there was zero confusion on my part all the while delivering her message with empathy and understanding towards my opinion and feelings. She is timely when asked questions via text or calls. She always put my needs as well as my children’s needs first when discussing options for my divorce proceedings. She clearly understands Florida law and how to apply it to even the most detailed situations. I was beyond happy with how my divorce was handled by Debra and her firm. Personally, I would have never wished this process on anyone but if it must be done I wouldn’t trust anyone but Debra to care for my livelihood moving forward past a divorced situation. She really did handle my case with understanding, patience and care. I will always be grateful for that. There is nothing better then retaining counsel with expertise in their law field, compassion and a strong team behind her. That’s how favorable results are achieved. No one enters marriage expecting divorce but for those of us that it sadly happens to, Debra was a God send. Thank you so much for treating me so professionally and like family with your advice. I will forever be grateful for you and your team. Jodi, her assistant is a blessing too. Huge asset on Debra’s team and quiet frankly was a leaning rock for me along the way as well. Thank you ladies. I will forever be indebted to you for how you cared for me and my case.

Elisha Frisby
September 8, 2021

She is awesome she really changed my life. I was going through something really bad and she step in and was very professional and was very upfront and I love that about her and she help me win my court hearing. God bless her! I would highly recommend her!

Daniel
March 15, 2021

I had a very difficult situation involving both business and a complicated custody situation. I thought I'd never find an attorney willing to work with me, with my circumstances. Debra is caring, compassionate, professional, respectful, sincere, talented and devoted. Debra truly helped me navigate a messy situation and I am fortunate to have found her.

anonymous
November 24, 2020

I was facing a deadline for loss of income due to illness and Debbie kept pushing through despite the reluctance of the other attorney to do anything and the problems caused by Covid. In the end I got a fair settlement amount which eliminated alimony!

Bronwyn
November 23, 2020

I can't say enough good things about Debra Ferwerda. She handled my situation so quickly and made sure I was in the loop the whole time. She was kind to me and made sure I understood along the way.

Richard
August 25, 2020

Mrs. Ferwerda agreed to review my complicated and contemptuous modification of alimony case. Following an insightful consultation, she agreed to represent me at a moment of overwhelming frustration due to the incompetence and ineptitude of previous legal representations. Decisively, Mrs. Ferwerda motioned to dismissed prior disingenuous arrangements, successfully arguing in court complicated legal reasoning. Always keenly researched and judiciously prepared to argue in court, she sagaciously negotiated on my behalf, suitably advising me at every step. Unquestionably, Mrs. Ferwarda's steadfast representation, genuine empathy, and resolute perseverance have restored my confidence in legal counsel. I wholeheartedly recommend Mrs. Fewerda's practice for anyone seeking passionate, diligent, and competent legal representation.

anonymous
April 26, 2020

Debra and her support team were very accessible and responsive. She worked with me directly and quickly responded to email, phone calls and even text messages. With Debra, you know your attorney is personally involved with your issue and she moves quickly to resolve it.

Jeff
April 18, 2020

Debbie was my divorce attorney between 2019 and 2020, and she helped me navigate those choppy waters all the way to new land. Debbie is a very caring person who I would also go to war with. Those two combinations are rare and instill great trust.

Maria
March 2, 2020

I was highly recommended to Debra Ferwerda by a good friend of mine who had recently finalized her divorce. From the initial phone call to the consultation I hired Debra immediately! Going through a divorce is an unpleasant experience to say the least. Through this grueling process I can't begin to thank Ms. Ferwarda enough for top notch representation while consistently having my best interest in mind. Her excellent communication skills providing smart strategy with possible outcome from opposing argument. She broke down the legal jargon into layman's terms being so patient with my many questions each step of the way from the initial call to the final judgement. Believe me - I had a lot of questions! The final outcome was successful and quite a bit more than I expected. I can see why my friend highly recommended Debra. I now speak from my own personal experience. I also highly recommend Debra Ferwerda. She's passionate about her job and is damn good at what she does!

anonymous
November 29, 2021

Debra Ferwerda led my case to victory! She was there to guide me and had all the knowledge to help me with the hardest time of my life. When I had the weight of the world on my shoulders Debra was there to take the weight off and give me hope. I could not have asked for a more compassionate, understanding, and knowledgeable lawyer than Debra. She is amazing and has a ton of experience, I highly recommend her! Thank you so much Debra!

Tiffiny
November 29, 2021

For most divorcees this process can be sad/hard. Debra and her team immediately put me at ease from the initial consult all the way till the very last days of the process. Debra was not only compassionate but extremely professional and her client control is on point. She was direct with me on the law so that there was zero confusion on my part all the while delivering her message with empathy and understanding towards my opinion and feelings. She is timely when asked questions via text or calls. She always put my needs as well as my children’s needs first when discussing options for my divorce proceedings. She clearly understands Florida law and how to apply it to even the most detailed situations. I was beyond happy with how my divorce was handled by Debra and her firm. Personally, I would have never wished this process on anyone but if it must be done I wouldn’t trust anyone but Debra to care for my livelihood moving forward past a divorced situation. She really did handle my case with understanding, patience and care. I will always be grateful for that. There is nothing better then retaining counsel with expertise in their law field, compassion and a strong team behind her. That’s how favorable results are achieved. No one enters marriage expecting divorce but for those of us that it sadly happens to, Debra was a God send. Thank you so much for treating me so professionally and like family with your advice. I will forever be grateful for you and your team. Jodi, her assistant is a blessing too. Huge asset on Debra’s team and quiet frankly was a leaning rock for me along the way as well. Thank you ladies. I will forever be indebted to you for how you cared for me and my case.

Elisha Frisby
September 8, 2021

She is awesome she really changed my life. I was going through something really bad and she step in and was very professional and was very upfront and I love that about her and she help me win my court hearing. God bless her! I would highly recommend her!

Daniel
March 15, 2021

I had a very difficult situation involving both business and a complicated custody situation. I thought I'd never find an attorney willing to work with me, with my circumstances. Debra is caring, compassionate, professional, respectful, sincere, talented and devoted. Debra truly helped me navigate a messy situation and I am fortunate to have found her.

anonymous
November 24, 2020

I was facing a deadline for loss of income due to illness and Debbie kept pushing through despite the reluctance of the other attorney to do anything and the problems caused by Covid. In the end I got a fair settlement amount which eliminated alimony!

Bronwyn
November 23, 2020

I can't say enough good things about Debra Ferwerda. She handled my situation so quickly and made sure I was in the loop the whole time. She was kind to me and made sure I understood along the way.

Richard
August 25, 2020

Mrs. Ferwerda agreed to review my complicated and contemptuous modification of alimony case. Following an insightful consultation, she agreed to represent me at a moment of overwhelming frustration due to the incompetence and ineptitude of previous legal representations. Decisively, Mrs. Ferwerda motioned to dismissed prior disingenuous arrangements, successfully arguing in court complicated legal reasoning. Always keenly researched and judiciously prepared to argue in court, she sagaciously negotiated on my behalf, suitably advising me at every step. Unquestionably, Mrs. Ferwarda's steadfast representation, genuine empathy, and resolute perseverance have restored my confidence in legal counsel. I wholeheartedly recommend Mrs. Fewerda's practice for anyone seeking passionate, diligent, and competent legal representation.

anonymous
April 26, 2020

Debra and her support team were very accessible and responsive. She worked with me directly and quickly responded to email, phone calls and even text messages. With Debra, you know your attorney is personally involved with your issue and she moves quickly to resolve it.

Jeff
April 18, 2020

Debbie was my divorce attorney between 2019 and 2020, and she helped me navigate those choppy waters all the way to new land. Debbie is a very caring person who I would also go to war with. Those two combinations are rare and instill great trust.

Maria
March 2, 2020

I was highly recommended to Debra Ferwerda by a good friend of mine who had recently finalized her divorce. From the initial phone call to the consultation I hired Debra immediately! Going through a divorce is an unpleasant experience to say the least. Through this grueling process I can't begin to thank Ms. Ferwarda enough for top notch representation while consistently having my best interest in mind. Her excellent communication skills providing smart strategy with possible outcome from opposing argument. She broke down the legal jargon into layman's terms being so patient with my many questions each step of the way from the initial call to the final judgement. Believe me - I had a lot of questions! The final outcome was successful and quite a bit more than I expected. I can see why my friend highly recommended Debra. I now speak from my own personal experience. I also highly recommend Debra Ferwerda. She's passionate about her job and is damn good at what she does!

anonymous
November 29, 2021

Debra Ferwerda led my case to victory! She was there to guide me and had all the knowledge to help me with the hardest time of my life. When I had the weight of the world on my shoulders Debra was there to take the weight off and give me hope. I could not have asked for a more compassionate, understanding, and knowledgeable lawyer than Debra. She is amazing and has a ton of experience, I highly recommend her! Thank you so much Debra!

Tiffiny
November 29, 2021

For most divorcees this process can be sad/hard. Debra and her team immediately put me at ease from the initial consult all the way till the very last days of the process. Debra was not only compassionate but extremely professional and her client control is on point. She was direct with me on the law so that there was zero confusion on my part all the while delivering her message with empathy and understanding towards my opinion and feelings. She is timely when asked questions via text or calls. She always put my needs as well as my children’s needs first when discussing options for my divorce proceedings. She clearly understands Florida law and how to apply it to even the most detailed situations. I was beyond happy with how my divorce was handled by Debra and her firm. Personally, I would have never wished this process on anyone but if it must be done I wouldn’t trust anyone but Debra to care for my livelihood moving forward past a divorced situation. She really did handle my case with understanding, patience and care. I will always be grateful for that. There is nothing better then retaining counsel with expertise in their law field, compassion and a strong team behind her. That’s how favorable results are achieved. No one enters marriage expecting divorce but for those of us that it sadly happens to, Debra was a God send. Thank you so much for treating me so professionally and like family with your advice. I will forever be grateful for you and your team. Jodi, her assistant is a blessing too. Huge asset on Debra’s team and quiet frankly was a leaning rock for me along the way as well. Thank you ladies. I will forever be indebted to you for how you cared for me and my case.

Elisha Frisby
September 8, 2021

She is awesome she really changed my life. I was going through something really bad and she step in and was very professional and was very upfront and I love that about her and she help me win my court hearing. God bless her! I would highly recommend her!

Daniel
March 15, 2021

I had a very difficult situation involving both business and a complicated custody situation. I thought I'd never find an attorney willing to work with me, with my circumstances. Debra is caring, compassionate, professional, respectful, sincere, talented and devoted. Debra truly helped me navigate a messy situation and I am fortunate to have found her.

anonymous
November 24, 2020

I was facing a deadline for loss of income due to illness and Debbie kept pushing through despite the reluctance of the other attorney to do anything and the problems caused by Covid. In the end I got a fair settlement amount which eliminated alimony!

Bronwyn
November 23, 2020

I can't say enough good things about Debra Ferwerda. She handled my situation so quickly and made sure I was in the loop the whole time. She was kind to me and made sure I understood along the way.

Richard
August 25, 2020

Mrs. Ferwerda agreed to review my complicated and contemptuous modification of alimony case. Following an insightful consultation, she agreed to represent me at a moment of overwhelming frustration due to the incompetence and ineptitude of previous legal representations. Decisively, Mrs. Ferwerda motioned to dismissed prior disingenuous arrangements, successfully arguing in court complicated legal reasoning. Always keenly researched and judiciously prepared to argue in court, she sagaciously negotiated on my behalf, suitably advising me at every step. Unquestionably, Mrs. Ferwarda's steadfast representation, genuine empathy, and resolute perseverance have restored my confidence in legal counsel. I wholeheartedly recommend Mrs. Fewerda's practice for anyone seeking passionate, diligent, and competent legal representation.

anonymous
April 26, 2020

Debra and her support team were very accessible and responsive. She worked with me directly and quickly responded to email, phone calls and even text messages. With Debra, you know your attorney is personally involved with your issue and she moves quickly to resolve it.

Jeff
April 18, 2020

Debbie was my divorce attorney between 2019 and 2020, and she helped me navigate those choppy waters all the way to new land. Debbie is a very caring person who I would also go to war with. Those two combinations are rare and instill great trust.

Maria
March 2, 2020

I was highly recommended to Debra Ferwerda by a good friend of mine who had recently finalized her divorce. From the initial phone call to the consultation I hired Debra immediately! Going through a divorce is an unpleasant experience to say the least. Through this grueling process I can't begin to thank Ms. Ferwarda enough for top notch representation while consistently having my best interest in mind. Her excellent communication skills providing smart strategy with possible outcome from opposing argument. She broke down the legal jargon into layman's terms being so patient with my many questions each step of the way from the initial call to the final judgement. Believe me - I had a lot of questions! The final outcome was successful and quite a bit more than I expected. I can see why my friend highly recommended Debra. I now speak from my own personal experience. I also highly recommend Debra Ferwerda. She's passionate about her job and is damn good at what she does!

anonymous
November 29, 2021

Debra Ferwerda led my case to victory! She was there to guide me and had all the knowledge to help me with the hardest time of my life. When I had the weight of the world on my shoulders Debra was there to take the weight off and give me hope. I could not have asked for a more compassionate, understanding, and knowledgeable lawyer than Debra. She is amazing and has a ton of experience, I highly recommend her! Thank you so much Debra!

Tiffiny
November 29, 2021

For most divorcees this process can be sad/hard. Debra and her team immediately put me at ease from the initial consult all the way till the very last days of the process. Debra was not only compassionate but extremely professional and her client control is on point. She was direct with me on the law so that there was zero confusion on my part all the while delivering her message with empathy and understanding towards my opinion and feelings. She is timely when asked questions via text or calls. She always put my needs as well as my children’s needs first when discussing options for my divorce proceedings. She clearly understands Florida law and how to apply it to even the most detailed situations. I was beyond happy with how my divorce was handled by Debra and her firm. Personally, I would have never wished this process on anyone but if it must be done I wouldn’t trust anyone but Debra to care for my livelihood moving forward past a divorced situation. She really did handle my case with understanding, patience and care. I will always be grateful for that. There is nothing better then retaining counsel with expertise in their law field, compassion and a strong team behind her. That’s how favorable results are achieved. No one enters marriage expecting divorce but for those of us that it sadly happens to, Debra was a God send. Thank you so much for treating me so professionally and like family with your advice. I will forever be grateful for you and your team. Jodi, her assistant is a blessing too. Huge asset on Debra’s team and quiet frankly was a leaning rock for me along the way as well. Thank you ladies. I will forever be indebted to you for how you cared for me and my case.

Elisha Frisby
September 8, 2021

She is awesome she really changed my life. I was going through something really bad and she step in and was very professional and was very upfront and I love that about her and she help me win my court hearing. God bless her! I would highly recommend her!

Daniel
March 15, 2021

I had a very difficult situation involving both business and a complicated custody situation. I thought I'd never find an attorney willing to work with me, with my circumstances. Debra is caring, compassionate, professional, respectful, sincere, talented and devoted. Debra truly helped me navigate a messy situation and I am fortunate to have found her.

anonymous
November 24, 2020

I was facing a deadline for loss of income due to illness and Debbie kept pushing through despite the reluctance of the other attorney to do anything and the problems caused by Covid. In the end I got a fair settlement amount which eliminated alimony!

Bronwyn
November 23, 2020

I can't say enough good things about Debra Ferwerda. She handled my situation so quickly and made sure I was in the loop the whole time. She was kind to me and made sure I understood along the way.

Richard
August 25, 2020

Mrs. Ferwerda agreed to review my complicated and contemptuous modification of alimony case. Following an insightful consultation, she agreed to represent me at a moment of overwhelming frustration due to the incompetence and ineptitude of previous legal representations. Decisively, Mrs. Ferwerda motioned to dismissed prior disingenuous arrangements, successfully arguing in court complicated legal reasoning. Always keenly researched and judiciously prepared to argue in court, she sagaciously negotiated on my behalf, suitably advising me at every step. Unquestionably, Mrs. Ferwarda's steadfast representation, genuine empathy, and resolute perseverance have restored my confidence in legal counsel. I wholeheartedly recommend Mrs. Fewerda's practice for anyone seeking passionate, diligent, and competent legal representation.

anonymous
April 26, 2020

Debra and her support team were very accessible and responsive. She worked with me directly and quickly responded to email, phone calls and even text messages. With Debra, you know your attorney is personally involved with your issue and she moves quickly to resolve it.

Jeff
April 18, 2020

Debbie was my divorce attorney between 2019 and 2020, and she helped me navigate those choppy waters all the way to new land. Debbie is a very caring person who I would also go to war with. Those two combinations are rare and instill great trust.

Maria
March 2, 2020

I was highly recommended to Debra Ferwerda by a good friend of mine who had recently finalized her divorce. From the initial phone call to the consultation I hired Debra immediately! Going through a divorce is an unpleasant experience to say the least. Through this grueling process I can't begin to thank Ms. Ferwarda enough for top notch representation while consistently having my best interest in mind. Her excellent communication skills providing smart strategy with possible outcome from opposing argument. She broke down the legal jargon into layman's terms being so patient with my many questions each step of the way from the initial call to the final judgement. Believe me - I had a lot of questions! The final outcome was successful and quite a bit more than I expected. I can see why my friend highly recommended Debra. I now speak from my own personal experience. I also highly recommend Debra Ferwerda. She's passionate about her job and is damn good at what she does!