Tess Sanford Ramirez
Tess Sanford Ramirez is a Topeka attorney with a passion for advocacy. She is a mother of five, a veteran and a survivor of child sexual abuse. That experience inspired her to become an attorney and help others who have been harmed seek accountability and rebuild their lives.
Education and Legal Career
Tess earned both a business degree and an MBA at Baker University, completing each with a 4.0 GPA. She also graduated in the top 10 of her class at Washburn Law in 2021.
Since graduating, Tess has practiced personal injury law and supervised a debt resolution program. That mix of legal and financial experience serves her clients well. An injury claim isn’t only about what happened. It’s also about what the injury costs, including medical bills, lost income, future care and the strain on a household budget. Insurance companies often try to minimize those numbers. Tess understands them and works to make sure they’re fully accounted for when a claim is valued.
Advocacy for Kansas Children
Tess is a Co-Director of the volunteer group Protecting KS Children From Sexual Predators. The group convinced the Kansas legislature to remove the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and extend the civil statute of limitations by 10 years.
Those changes matter because survivors often need years, sometimes decades, before they’re ready to come forward. A deadline that expires too soon can close the door on justice before a survivor is ready to speak. Because of the group’s work, more Kansas survivors now have time to pursue criminal accountability and civil claims against those responsible. Survivors whose abuse happened long ago may still have legal options. Talking with an attorney is the best way to find out.
How Tess Works with Clients
Tess knows that talking about an injury or abuse can be difficult. She lets clients share their stories at their own pace, explains each step of the legal process in plain terms and handles personal information with discretion. Clients are never pressured to make decisions before they’re ready.
She also believes clients should never be left wondering where their case stands. Tess keeps clients informed as their case moves forward and answers questions directly. She makes sure they understand their options before any major decision, including whether to accept a settlement.
Her military service and her role as a mother of five shape how she approaches the work: with discipline, careful preparation and a clear sense of what’s at stake for the families she represents.
Standing Up for People Who Have Been Harmed
Whether a client was hurt in a car crash, injured through someone else’s carelessness or harmed by abuse, Tess’s goal is the same: hold the responsible party accountable and secure the resources the client needs to move forward. Insurance companies and large organizations often have teams of lawyers protecting their interests. Tess makes sure her clients have someone just as committed protecting theirs.
What Clients Can Expect From Tess Sanford Ramirez
Tess pairs her legal training with a strong business background and real-world experience. Her business degree and MBA, along with her work supervising a debt resolution program, give her a practical understanding of the financial stress that often follows an injury, from medical bills to lost income. As a veteran and a mother of five, she understands discipline, responsibility and the pressures families face when life is disrupted. Whether a client has been injured in an accident or harmed in another way, she listens first and builds each case around that person’s needs. Clients can expect a lawyer who prepares carefully, communicates honestly and fights for the outcome they deserve
Learn more about how our firm advocates for injury victims and vulnerable individuals by visiting our personal injury and sexual abuse litigation practice area pages.
