Mrs. Tarsila Crawford was born in Sao Paula, Brazil and grew up in Clearwater, Florida. She speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese and enjoys working with a diverse clientele in Tennessee.
Mrs. Tarsila Crawford attended college and law school in Florida. Mrs. Crawford attended the University of Florida where she was active in student groups serving as President of the Brazilian’ Student Association and earning the Presidential Award for Excellence in the study of Portuguese. In law school Mrs. Crawford competed with her school’s trial team winning a regional tournament in Las Vegas and securing a position in the Elite Eight in New Orleans.
Mrs. Crawford focuses her practice on helping families. She is committed to aggressive representation of her clients but understands there is an emotional side to every case. Mrs. Crawford strives to make herself accessible to clients while at the same time working diligently on each one of her cases. Mrs. Crawford believes that compromise is essential to each case but she also believes that aggressive representation is often necessary as well. Mrs. Crawford is dedicated to helping her client’s protect their financial interests as well as their children’s interests.
In addition to representing clients in family law cases such as divorce, child custody and child support, Mrs. Crawford’s practice also includes appeals. Mrs. Crawford has begun introducing immigration law to her practice and is able to communicate with clients in Portuguese and Spanish. Mrs. Crawford is also interested in expanding her practice to assist the business community in Tennessee with doing business in Brazil as her undergraduate education includes a degree in Portuguese, Political Science and a Certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida. Mrs. Crawford is also well versed in business and cultural norms in Brazil and Latin America.
Mrs. Crawford passed the Tennessee Bar Exam in November 2008 and began working as an attorney at Widrig Law, PLLC in January 2009. She lives with her Husband and daughter in Mt. Juliet in Wilson County. She loves being a mom and enjoys supporting other working parents through advocacy, volunteering and education.
Professional Activities
Harry Phillips Inn of Court
CASA Wilson County
Community Involvement
Gallatin High School volunteer guest judge for Mock Trial Team
Volunteer for Davidson County Youth Court
Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney for Legal Aid Society Clinic at Casa Azafrin
Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney for Tennessee Justice of our Neighbors
Member of the Nashville Breastfeeding Coalition
Notable Cases
In Re: Madilene G.R., Court of Appeals of Tennessee at Nashville, November 27, 2012, Appeal from the Chancery Court for Rutherford County, No. M2012-01178-COA-R3-PT
• Mrs. Crawford successfully argued at the Court of Appeals that the trial court’s decision to terminate her client’s parental rights should be overturned and that her client should be permitted to seek custody of his child.
In Re: K.B., Court of Appeals of Tennessee at Nashville, June 28, 2012, Appeal from the Chancery Court for Rutherford County, No. M2011-01396-COA-R3-PT
• Mrs. Crawford successfully defended the trial court’s ruling in favor of her client that terminated the mother’s parental rights as the mother committed severe abuse against her son.
Professional Organizations
Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association
Sumner County Bar Association
Member of the Immigrant Child Advocacy Network
Member of the Brazilian Studies Association
Member of the Brazilian American Bar Association
Member of the Hispanic Bar Association
