Debra Lynn Ferwerda

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