Deborah Stewart was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and moved to Naples in 1976 with her parents and siblings.   She has been married to C. Wayne Stewart since 1982, and they have a daughter, Jacqueline Deborah.

Ms. Stewart earned her Associate of Arts degree from Florida Southwestern College, the former Edison Community College, her Bachelor of Professional Studies degree from Barry University, and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Miami School of Law.  She passed the Florida Bar in 1994.  After practicing for most of her career in small firms, she is currently a partner in the Naples, Florida office of McLaughlin & Stern, PLLC, concentrating her practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, real property law, including title insurance, and related litigation in those areas.

For many years, she participated with her legal colleagues in a legal educational program entitled “The Law and Your Future,” which aired on local television and radio stations educating the public on legal matters related to estate planning and real estate. 

Ms. Stewart is a member of various Sections of the Florida and Collier County Bar Associations, including the Real Property and Trust and Estate Sections.  She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Collier County Bar Association.  Ms. Stewart is former Chair of the Trust and Estate Section of the Collier County Bar Association, served on the Board of Directors of the Collier County Legal Aid Society, and was Chair of the Lawyers Referral Service Committee.  She has participated in the Mock Trial program of the CCBA.  She has also served as officer and director for other various professional and community organizations, including Past President of The Rotary Club of Naples, Director of the Forum Club of Southwest Florida, Inc., and Director of Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation, Inc.

She was given the honor of delivering the commencement speech to the Florida Southwestern College Class of 2017.

In her “spare” time, she enjoys reading, travel, Naples’ beaches, tennis, and “Freakin’ at the Beacon” bowling alley with Fellow Rotarians as a member of the “renowned” Rotary Club of Naples “Rotary Gold” bowling team.