Testimonials

"I came to Debra with a difficult case. My case started back in 2002. At the time I wasn't represented so my case was never done right. She agreed to take my case even though it was a messy one. She was able to work with me and my financial situation. She is very knowledgeable and was able to help me with custody & child support. I felt at ease knowing I was being represented when court came."
“Finding a competent, supportive lawyer at a reasonable price is a daunting task. I painfully learned this lesson several years ago from my experience with my previous lawyer who thoroughly bungled my divorce case yet managed to charge me a fortune. Recently when I began the process of modifying my support payments, I searched numerous review sites for the best divorce lawyer in Monterey and found Debra through this web site. I can honestly say that she is an absolute superstar based on my experience and based on watching numerous other lawyers in court as they (mis)represent their clients.
Debra's strengths are:
-phenomenal memory for details and facts and will know your case better than you
-organized and meticulous with her notes and files
-personable and caring and has an innate ability to connect with you and your case on a personal level
-thoroughly knowledgeable on divorce law and presents many options for handling your case
-during the initial consultation she inspired confidence in her ability to handle my case and delivered on court day
-on top of all the above, her costs are unbelievably reasonable and she does not nickle and dime you for every interaction
I cannot say enough good things about Debra and consider myself fortunate to have her represent my case.”
"My annulment case was transferred to Ms. Crawford after my initial lawyer had moved. Despite my apprehension over having a new lawyer appointed without my knowledge, I am now so thankful that my case was transferred to Debra. From the first meeting with her, I felt at ease to know that I was in the hands of someone that truly cared and took the time to understand my situation and me, as an individual. It was evident that she put the necessary time and effort into my case to fight for my annulment, which was ultimately granted. I would highly recommend Debra to anyone who is looking for an honest, knowledgeable, hardworking, supportive, and well-respected lawyer in Monterey County."
“Mrs. Crawford is the best compassionate, great and genuine attorney that gets real results and is affordable!! I came to her for her expertise and knew I needed the proper representation since I am currently going through a child custody case that has caused me a lot of stress due to the lack of knowledge that I have in this area. (and she was the one)
Mrs. Crawford is very honest and straight forward (which i like) but is very compassionate and understanding at the same time. She is very prompt in answering my questions whenever I had questions regarding my case or concerns, helped me understand what was being stated at the time thoroughly (where most attorneys don't have the patience, Mrs.Crawford DEFINITELY DOES!!!) We had gone to court, I was a nervous wreck but Mrs.Crawford reassured me every step of the way that everything will be fine and IT WAS!!
Debra Crawford is a very personable, caring, knowledgeable and unbelievably reasonable in her fees. Where most attorneys will make you bleed money; Mrs. Crawford displays that it is more than that to her. There aren’t enough great things that I can express to describe Debra Crawford. I would definitely recommend Mrs. Crawford to anyone who is seeking the best representation in town. Im so very fortunate that she is my attorney that represents me in my present case. I would most definitely use her again!!”
“I have been working with Debra for 13 months with my custody dispute, I am in Florida and she is in California. She did a excellent job handling my case with the distance between us. She was very quick to answer any questions I had. She made me feel confident that I hired the right attorney when it came to go to court and present my case (I couldn't be there, and I didn't need to be!) If I ever need an attorney again in California, I would would not hesitate to hire her again. Thank you again Debra!!”
“Mrs. Crawford and I became friends first. I was looking for an attorney, and I had read to pick an attorney that you can relate to. Deborah and I had a long conversation, nothing related to my case, and I could tell she was passionate about what she does. After meeting at her office regarding my needs, I knew I had made a good choice. When we got to the court house, I could tell Deborah has many friends and is well respected. When it came to business, Deborah was a shark. I was really impressed with her representation and I would refer Deborah to any one looking for a fantastic attorney. Mrs.Crawford gets work done, and I'll never forget how much she helped me. Family issues are sensitive and affect you and your family for life. Make sure you have the right person to be there for you.”
“Debra was very quick to respond to my request for a consultation. Despite quickly realizing that I would need to attain legal representation in a different locale, Debra was more than happy to discuss my case and provided me with great information as well as a reference for an excellent attorney in another area. She was extremely professional and helpful.”
“I am currently going through a custody battle which is stressful and time consuming and due to Mrs. Crawford’s great help it has made the process a bit easier and more understandable. Her great knowledge and expertise that she has demonstrated to us is a quality that we value. She lets us know what is best for our case and has given us the peace of mind that her priority is the well being and safety of our child.”
“I would like to thank Debra for her great, amazing help she has provided me. I've enjoyed every minute of her conversations and/or meetings. I want to make sure and point out that since the very first frustrating, devastating, harsh day I found out about my issue, she was there for me, answered my questions and got on the phone that same day to get information on the other party's lawyer and or paperwork. so far till this point I would sure recommend her 110% to others. Debra listened to me and understood where I was coming from. thanks to her I've been able to continue with my life a bit better than what I expected. thank you for all you have done so far Debra and hope we keep in touch even after this issue settles. Mil Gracias.”
“Debra is a knowledgeable, understanding and straight forward attorney, which is what I like and need. I came to her after realizing I did not know what I was doing and was terrified of what would happen to me and my children. She is helping me to understand how the divorce process works as well how my understanding of the law is not always accurate/realistic. She is prompt to respond to any of issues I am dealing with during this divorce process. I feel confident with her every time she is representing me in court.”
“Debra was great from the very beginning. She took care of everything for me quickly and responded to all my questions. I would recommend her to anyone!”
"Debra made a very difficult and very scary time in my life a lot easier. She knew I was leaving to move out-of-state and continued to represent me, and again when the case got moved to another county. It was a VERY long ride, but she was phenomenal throughout the almost 3 year span. I am definitely pleased with the end result and all of the help, knowledge, and assistance Debra provided to me. Thank you so much D!!"
"Deb took over my high-conflict case mid-trial after another lawyer had mis-managed me into a losing situation with what should have been a strong, winning case. Many lawyers refuse to get involved in a case mid-stream, especially one as mismanaged and high-conflict as mine. That didn't stop Deb, who's motivation was to make sure my side of the case was heard.
To that end, she worked diligently through a small mountain of existing exhibits and quickly determined where to focus our efforts so as to not waste court time and expense on trivial things. In a very short amount of time, she was able to grasp the case and not forget key details. Her mastery of the evidence and witness testimony during trial was excellent. Deb did an excellent job keeping the case "in front of her", and in trial stayed very focused on key matters. She was quick-witted and able to think on her feet as the testimony evolved, which is a VERY big deal in trial. She never allowed the opposing side to take control of the narrative, no matter how dirty they played.
In short, Deb rescued my case from almost certain defeat. It remains to be seen if the outcome reflects it, but I can say without reservation that I feel that my case was presented professionally and in its entirety, and at the end there wasn't anything I'd wished we'd done or hadn't done. We worked hard together as client and attorney, and we "left it all on the field". My only regret in all this is I didn't find her first."
"Thank you for your expertise, guidance, and understanding that helped me in obtaining excellent results in court."
"Thank you so much for your patience, diligence and positive spirit during this most difficult time of my life. Hopefully, there's some truth (and comfort) in that pain is the touchstone of spiritual growth."
"Debra stepped up to the plate for me where other local attorneys failed. My case in family law has been one that others have found impossible to crack, but Debra has been a relentless spirit whom has not only been an open and friendly ear in her office but also a strong persevering force in court. I have new hope thanks to this woman, and sincerely thank her for what she does. I put my trust in her because she delivers, and am happy to recommend her services."
"I went into my divorce completely unaware how the whole court system worked. Debra was always patient with me, took the time to explain the details and really valued the fact that this was an emotional time for me. She advised me on how best to protect myself and my kids. When we went into court she was very respectful to my ex, listening to him and making sure that everything agreed upon was understood by both of us. Even after everything was done and filed, she would respond quickly to any lingering questions that I would email her. I have recommended her to several of my friends who have needed legal advise and she has always been very helpful with them and has even offered to send them the correct forms so they can get started on the filing on their own. I hope to not have to use a lawyer again any time soon, but if I do I will not hesitate to call Debra."
"Wow! After reading the above message I can see where my lawyer has such passion to her practice. Mrs. Crawford knew first hand what I was dealing with when my case came to her (see above for validation) it was hard for me to deal with manipulations and mean spirit of the other party and not want to defend myself against everything. Most lawyers feed off of situations like that and will just bleed you for money. Mrs. Crawford kept calm and kept a path of leaving out the emotions and just sticking to fact. That is a five star lawyer!"
"When I finally decided to get am attorney for my case, a few people recommended Debra. She was very generous with her time during our consultation. She took notes and answered all of my questions and addressed my concerns. She even allowed me to bring my partner in the following day so he could have a chance to ask questions also. She didn't pressure us into making any decisions right away. I felt confident in hiring her and she's been great."
"I've been working with Debra for about 8 months now. She is empathetic and often checks in with me to see how things are going. We've communicated through e-mails most of the time. I send her quick updates on the other party's behavior and she is always quick to respond and let me know how to handle things. It has been such a relief having her support through all the trouble my ex puts me through. I recommend Debra to anyone I know who is going through a custody battle."
"I immediately felt at ease the first time I met Debra. She stayed by my side throughout the divorce process, explained everything clearly and helped me win at court. I can't recommend her highly enough!"
"I've had the pleasure of being represented by Debra with above-average results. Debra was extremely professional, responsive and helpful throughout the process. She demonstrated superior knowledge, and was always willing to listen. I feel she represented the best interests of my family. I would highly recommend Debra."
"Debra is currently my attorney she is doing an outstanding job of getting me joint custody she is willing and understandable. Debra is highly recommendable in my book A+ attorney."
"Before I hired Debra I spoke with at least 6 family lawyers. None of the 6 gave me what Debra did and that is not just knowledge on my situation but also compassion to what Iam going thru. I believe that all lawyers should really care and not just do their job. She responded to all my questions promtly and followed up with me from time to time. I really felt the connection with her. And oh by the way I won my case! Im very satisfied. I would highly recommend her."
“Finding a competent, supportive lawyer at a reasonable price is a daunting task. I painfully learned this lesson several years ago from my experience with my previous lawyer who thoroughly bungled my divorce case yet managed to charge me a fortune. Recently when I began the process of modifying my support payments, I searched numerous review sites for the best divorce lawyer in Monterey and found Debra through this web site. I can honestly say that she is an absolute superstar based on my experience and based on watching numerous other lawyers in court as they (mis)represent their clients.
Debra's strengths are:
-phenomenal memory for details and facts and will know your case better than you
-organized and meticulous with her notes and files
-personable and caring and has an innate ability to connect with you and your case on a personal level
-thoroughly knowledgeable on divorce law and presents many options for handling your case
-during the initial consultation she inspired confidence in her ability to handle my case and delivered on court day
-on top of all the above, her costs are unbelievably reasonable and she does not nickle and dime you for every interaction
I cannot say enough good things about Debra and consider myself fortunate to have her represent my case.”
"My annulment case was transferred to Ms. Crawford after my initial lawyer had moved. Despite my apprehension over having a new lawyer appointed without my knowledge, I am now so thankful that my case was transferred to Debra. From the first meeting with her, I felt at ease to know that I was in the hands of someone that truly cared and took the time to understand my situation and me, as an individual. It was evident that she put the necessary time and effort into my case to fight for my annulment, which was ultimately granted. I would highly recommend Debra to anyone who is looking for an honest, knowledgeable, hardworking, supportive, and well-respected lawyer in Monterey County."
“Mrs. Crawford is the best compassionate, great and genuine attorney that gets real results and is affordable!! I came to her for her expertise and knew I needed the proper representation since I am currently going through a child custody case that has caused me a lot of stress due to the lack of knowledge that I have in this area. (and she was the one)
Mrs. Crawford is very honest and straight forward (which i like) but is very compassionate and understanding at the same time. She is very prompt in answering my questions whenever I had questions regarding my case or concerns, helped me understand what was being stated at the time thoroughly (where most attorneys don't have the patience, Mrs.Crawford DEFINITELY DOES!!!) We had gone to court, I was a nervous wreck but Mrs.Crawford reassured me every step of the way that everything will be fine and IT WAS!!
Debra Crawford is a very personable, caring, knowledgeable and unbelievably reasonable in her fees. Where most attorneys will make you bleed money; Mrs. Crawford displays that it is more than that to her. There aren’t enough great things that I can express to describe Debra Crawford. I would definitely recommend Mrs. Crawford to anyone who is seeking the best representation in town. Im so very fortunate that she is my attorney that represents me in my present case. I would most definitely use her again!!”
“I have been working with Debra for 13 months with my custody dispute, I am in Florida and she is in California. She did a excellent job handling my case with the distance between us. She was very quick to answer any questions I had. She made me feel confident that I hired the right attorney when it came to go to court and present my case (I couldn't be there, and I didn't need to be!) If I ever need an attorney again in California, I would would not hesitate to hire her again. Thank you again Debra!!”
“Mrs. Crawford and I became friends first. I was looking for an attorney, and I had read to pick an attorney that you can relate to. Deborah and I had a long conversation, nothing related to my case, and I could tell she was passionate about what she does. After meeting at her office regarding my needs, I knew I had made a good choice. When we got to the court house, I could tell Deborah has many friends and is well respected. When it came to business, Deborah was a shark. I was really impressed with her representation and I would refer Deborah to any one looking for a fantastic attorney. Mrs.Crawford gets work done, and I'll never forget how much she helped me. Family issues are sensitive and affect you and your family for life. Make sure you have the right person to be there for you.”
“Debra was very quick to respond to my request for a consultation. Despite quickly realizing that I would need to attain legal representation in a different locale, Debra was more than happy to discuss my case and provided me with great information as well as a reference for an excellent attorney in another area. She was extremely professional and helpful.”
“I am currently going through a custody battle which is stressful and time consuming and due to Mrs. Crawford’s great help it has made the process a bit easier and more understandable. Her great knowledge and expertise that she has demonstrated to us is a quality that we value. She lets us know what is best for our case and has given us the peace of mind that her priority is the well being and safety of our child.”
“I would like to thank Debra for her great, amazing help she has provided me. I've enjoyed every minute of her conversations and/or meetings. I want to make sure and point out that since the very first frustrating, devastating, harsh day I found out about my issue, she was there for me, answered my questions and got on the phone that same day to get information on the other party's lawyer and or paperwork. so far till this point I would sure recommend her 110% to others. Debra listened to me and understood where I was coming from. thanks to her I've been able to continue with my life a bit better than what I expected. thank you for all you have done so far Debra and hope we keep in touch even after this issue settles. Mil Gracias.”
“Debra is a knowledgeable, understanding and straight forward attorney, which is what I like and need. I came to her after realizing I did not know what I was doing and was terrified of what would happen to me and my children. She is helping me to understand how the divorce process works as well how my understanding of the law is not always accurate/realistic. She is prompt to respond to any of issues I am dealing with during this divorce process. I feel confident with her every time she is representing me in court.”
“Debra was great from the very beginning. She took care of everything for me quickly and responded to all my questions. I would recommend her to anyone!”
"Debra made a very difficult and very scary time in my life a lot easier. She knew I was leaving to move out-of-state and continued to represent me, and again when the case got moved to another county. It was a VERY long ride, but she was phenomenal throughout the almost 3 year span. I am definitely pleased with the end result and all of the help, knowledge, and assistance Debra provided to me. Thank you so much D!!"
"Deb took over my high-conflict case mid-trial after another lawyer had mis-managed me into a losing situation with what should have been a strong, winning case. Many lawyers refuse to get involved in a case mid-stream, especially one as mismanaged and high-conflict as mine. That didn't stop Deb, who's motivation was to make sure my side of the case was heard.
To that end, she worked diligently through a small mountain of existing exhibits and quickly determined where to focus our efforts so as to not waste court time and expense on trivial things. In a very short amount of time, she was able to grasp the case and not forget key details. Her mastery of the evidence and witness testimony during trial was excellent. Deb did an excellent job keeping the case "in front of her", and in trial stayed very focused on key matters. She was quick-witted and able to think on her feet as the testimony evolved, which is a VERY big deal in trial. She never allowed the opposing side to take control of the narrative, no matter how dirty they played.
In short, Deb rescued my case from almost certain defeat. It remains to be seen if the outcome reflects it, but I can say without reservation that I feel that my case was presented professionally and in its entirety, and at the end there wasn't anything I'd wished we'd done or hadn't done. We worked hard together as client and attorney, and we "left it all on the field". My only regret in all this is I didn't find her first."
"Thank you for your expertise, guidance, and understanding that helped me in obtaining excellent results in court."
"Thank you so much for your patience, diligence and positive spirit during this most difficult time of my life. Hopefully, there's some truth (and comfort) in that pain is the touchstone of spiritual growth."
"Debra stepped up to the plate for me where other local attorneys failed. My case in family law has been one that others have found impossible to crack, but Debra has been a relentless spirit whom has not only been an open and friendly ear in her office but also a strong persevering force in court. I have new hope thanks to this woman, and sincerely thank her for what she does. I put my trust in her because she delivers, and am happy to recommend her services."
"I went into my divorce completely unaware how the whole court system worked. Debra was always patient with me, took the time to explain the details and really valued the fact that this was an emotional time for me. She advised me on how best to protect myself and my kids. When we went into court she was very respectful to my ex, listening to him and making sure that everything agreed upon was understood by both of us. Even after everything was done and filed, she would respond quickly to any lingering questions that I would email her. I have recommended her to several of my friends who have needed legal advise and she has always been very helpful with them and has even offered to send them the correct forms so they can get started on the filing on their own. I hope to not have to use a lawyer again any time soon, but if I do I will not hesitate to call Debra."
"Wow! After reading the above message I can see where my lawyer has such passion to her practice. Mrs. Crawford knew first hand what I was dealing with when my case came to her (see above for validation) it was hard for me to deal with manipulations and mean spirit of the other party and not want to defend myself against everything. Most lawyers feed off of situations like that and will just bleed you for money. Mrs. Crawford kept calm and kept a path of leaving out the emotions and just sticking to fact. That is a five star lawyer!"
"When I finally decided to get am attorney for my case, a few people recommended Debra. She was very generous with her time during our consultation. She took notes and answered all of my questions and addressed my concerns. She even allowed me to bring my partner in the following day so he could have a chance to ask questions also. She didn't pressure us into making any decisions right away. I felt confident in hiring her and she's been great."
"I've been working with Debra for about 8 months now. She is empathetic and often checks in with me to see how things are going. We've communicated through e-mails most of the time. I send her quick updates on the other party's behavior and she is always quick to respond and let me know how to handle things. It has been such a relief having her support through all the trouble my ex puts me through. I recommend Debra to anyone I know who is going through a custody battle."
"I immediately felt at ease the first time I met Debra. She stayed by my side throughout the divorce process, explained everything clearly and helped me win at court. I can't recommend her highly enough!"
"I've had the pleasure of being represented by Debra with above-average results. Debra was extremely professional, responsive and helpful throughout the process. She demonstrated superior knowledge, and was always willing to listen. I feel she represented the best interests of my family. I would highly recommend Debra."
"Debra is currently my attorney she is doing an outstanding job of getting me joint custody she is willing and understandable. Debra is highly recommendable in my book A+ attorney."
"Before I hired Debra I spoke with at least 6 family lawyers. None of the 6 gave me what Debra did and that is not just knowledge on my situation but also compassion to what Iam going thru. I believe that all lawyers should really care and not just do their job. She responded to all my questions promtly and followed up with me from time to time. I really felt the connection with her. And oh by the way I won my case! Im very satisfied. I would highly recommend her."