<PAGE>   1
                                                  Registration No. 333-
                                                                       ---------

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                         ------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

               Georgia                                      58-0506554
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)

     5620 Glenridge Drive, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia              30342
     ------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)

             CRAWFORD & COMPANY 1997 KEY EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
             ------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                  Judd F. Osten
                            5620 Glenridge Dr., N.E.
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30342
                     --------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent For Service)

                                 (404) 847-4550
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Proposed       Propose
Title of                                    Maximum        Maximum
Securities             Amount               Offering       Aggregate            Amount of
to be                  to be                Price Per      Offering             Registration
Registered             Registered           Share(1)       Price(1)             Fee(1)
----------             ----------           ---------      -----------          ------------
<S>                    <C>                  <C>            <C>                  <C>
Class A                2,500,000            $   10.50      $26,250,000          $   6,930.00
Common Stock
par value $1.00
per share
</TABLE>

=============================================================================
         (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) on the basis of the average of the high and low
prices for Registrant's Class A Common Stock reported in the consolidated
reporting system on August 9, 2000.


<PAGE>   2

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement:

         (a) The Annual Report of the Registrant on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999.

         (b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), since December 31, 1999.

         (c) The Description of the Registrant's Securities to be Registered
section from the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 1990, filed pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Exchange Act.

         All documents filed by the Company subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which
deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         The following is a summary of each statute, bylaw provision and
insurance policy under which a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant may be entitled to indemnification against liabilities in his
capacity as such.

Georgia Corporation Law

         Sections 14-2-851 through 14-2-859 of the Georgia Business Corporation
Code (the "Georgia Code") generally provide that a corporation may indemnify any
director, officer, employee or agent against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with any action to which he is made a party by
reason of his being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation if such person acted in a manner he believed in good faith to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and in the case of a
criminal action had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
However, if the action is brought by or in the right of the corporation, the
Georgia Code provides that indemnification of directors shall be limited to the
reasonable expenses incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding.
No indemnification shall be provided any director as to any claim, issue, or
matter brought by or in the right of the corporation as to which such person
shall have been adjudged to have been liable to the corporation, or in any other
proceeding in which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable on the
basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, unless and to the
extent that the court in which the suit was brought or other


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined upon application that,
despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of
the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the court shall deem proper. The Georgia Code also provides that
to the extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on
the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred
to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith.

         In addition, Section 14-2-202 of the Georgia Code permits a corporation
to include in its articles of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting
the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for
monetary damages, for breach of duty of care or other duty as a director, except
(i) for any appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business
opportunity of the corporation, (ii) for acts or omissions which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for liability under
Section 14-2-832 of the Georgia Code (involving certain distributions), or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director received an improper benefit.

Charter Provisions

         Article IV of the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation
limits the personal liability of a director of the Registrant or its
shareholders as provided in Section 14-2-202 of the Georgia Code.

Restated By-laws Provisions

         Article VI, Section 1, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that the Registrant shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
(other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
or serving in any of such capacities at the Registrant's request in another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against
expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant, and
with respect to any criminal action, if he had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful.

         Article VI, Section 2 of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that the Registrant shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action by
or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor by reason
of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant or was serving in any of such capacities at the request of the
Registrant with any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Registrant, except that in respect of any claim, issue
or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Registrant,
indemnification will be permitted only to the extent that the court in which the
action was brought finds that despite the adjudication of liability but in view
of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

         Article VI, Section 3 of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
shall be successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Registrant's
Restated By-laws or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall
be indemnified against expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

         Article VI, Section 4 of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI (unless ordered by
a court) shall be made by the Registrant only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or
agent is proper in the circumstances because he had met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI. Such determination shall
be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting
of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable but a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the shareholders.

         Article VI, Section 5, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding may be paid by the Registrant in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors in the
manner provided in Section 4 of Article VI upon receipt of an undertaking by or
on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount
unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified
by the Registrant as authorized in Article VI, and, if such person is a
director, upon receipt of a written affirmation of such director's good faith
belief that he has met the standards of conduct required by the Georgia Code.

         Article VI, Section 6, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
indemnified may be entitled under any agreement, vote of shareholders, or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or
agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators
of such person.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

         Article VI, Section 7, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that the Board of Directors may authorize, by a vote of the majority of the full
board, the Registrant to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or was
serving in any of such capacities at the request of the Registrant with any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Registrant would have the
power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of Article
VI.

Insurance

         The Registrant maintains Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance
policies which provide for payment by the insurers for losses arising from any
claim or claims against an officer or director of the Registrant by reason of
any actual or alleged breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement, misleading
statement, omission or other act done or wrongfully attempted by them in such
capacities, in connection with any matter claimed against them solely by reason
of their serving in any of such capacities, but only when the Registrant is
required or permitted by law to pay amounts as indemnity to the directors and
officers.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Regulation S-K
Reference No.
--------------
<S>      <C>
4.1      Restated Articles of Incorporation of Crawford & Company (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to Registrant's quarterly report on Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1991).

4.2      Restated By-laws of Crawford & Company, as amended (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
         for the quarter ended June 30, 1999).

4.3      Crawford & Company 1997 Key Employee Stock Option Plan, as amended and
         restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix A on page A-1 of
         Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
         held on April 25, 2000).

5.1      Opinion of Registrant's counsel regarding legality of shares.

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.2     Consent of Registrant's counsel (contained in opinion filed as Exhibit
         5.1).
</TABLE>


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                  (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement; and

                  (iii)    To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

                  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

         (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3)      To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

(b)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on the 25th day of July,
2000.


                                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY
                                                  (Registrant)


                                           By:  /s/  ARCHIE MEYERS, JR.
                                               --------------------------------
                                                Archie Meyers, Jr., Chairman of
                                                the Board and Chief Executive
                                                Officer

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

         Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    SIGNATURE                                           TITLE                                    DATE

<S>                                             <C>                                            <C>
/s/ ARCHIE MEYERS, JR.                          Chairman of the Board,                         July 25, 2000
------------------------------                  Chief Executive Officer,
Archie Meyers, Jr.                              (Principal Executive
                                                Officer) and Director

/s/ J. F. GIBLIN                                Executive Vice President                       July 25, 2000
------------------------------                  - Finance (Principal
John F. Giblin                                  Financial Officer)


/s/ W. B. SWAIN                                 Senior Vice President                          August 10, 2000
------------------------------                  and Controller (Principal
W. B. Swain                                     Accounting Officer)



/s/  GROVER L. DAVIS                             Director                                      July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Grover L. Davis



/s/  F. L. MINIX                                 Director                                      July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Forrest L. Minix



/s/ JESSE C. CRAWFORD                            Director                                      July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Jesse C. Crawford
</TABLE>


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                    DATE
<S>                                                   <C>                                       <C>
/s/ J. HICKS LANIER                                   Director                                  July 25, 2000
------------------------------
J. Hicks Lanier



/s/ CHARLES FLATHER                                   Director                                  July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Charles Flather



/s/ LINDA K. CRAWFORD                                 Director                                  July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Linda K. Crawford


/s/ LARRY L. PRINCE
------------------------------                        Director                                  July 25, 2000
Larry L. Prince



/s/ JOHN A. WILLIAMS
------------------------------                        Director                                  July 25, 2000
John A. Williams



/s/ E. JENNER WOOD, III
-------------------------------                       Director                                  July 25, 2000
E. Jenner Wood, III
</TABLE>


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     Sequential
Exhibit                             Documents                                                        Page Number
-------                             ---------                                                        -----------
<S>      <C>                                                                                         <C>
4.1      Restated Articles of Incorporation of Crawford & Company (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to Registrant's quarterly report on Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1991).

4.2      Restated By-laws of Crawford & Company, as amended (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
         for the quarter ended June 30, 1999).

4.3      Crawford & Company 1997 Key Employee Stock Option Plan as amended and
         restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix A on Page A-1 of
         Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
         held April 25, 2000).

5.1      Opinion of Registrant's counsel regarding legality of shares.                                      11

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                                                                    12

23.2     Consent of Registrant's counsel (contained in opinion filed as Exhibit
         5.1).
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s-8.txt", "description": "CRAWFORD & COMPANY", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24466}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CRAWFORD & CO", "cik": "0000025475", "assigned-sic": "6411", "irs-number": "580506554", "state-of-incorporation": "GA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-43740", "film-number": "700666"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5620 GLENRIDGE DR NE", "city": "ATLANTA", "state": "GA", "zip": "30342", "phone": "4042560830"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5620 GLENRIDE DR", "city": "ATLANTA", "state": "GA", "zip": "30342"}}
1
                                                  Registration No. 333-
                                                                       ---------

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                         ------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

               Georgia                                      58-0506554
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)

     5620 Glenridge Drive, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia              30342
     ------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)

             CRAWFORD & COMPANY 1997 KEY EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
             ------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                  Judd F. Osten
                            5620 Glenridge Dr., N.E.
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30342
                     --------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent For Service)

                                 (404) 847-4550
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
Proposed       Propose
Title of                                    Maximum        Maximum
Securities             Amount               Offering       Aggregate            Amount of
to be                  to be                Price Per      Offering             Registration
Registered             Registered           Share(1)       Price(1)             Fee(1)
----------             ----------           ---------      -----------          ------------
Class A                2,500,000            $   10.50      $26,250,000          $   6,930.00
Common Stock
par value $1.00
per share
=============================================================================
         (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) on the basis of the average of the high and low
prices for Registrant's Class A Common Stock reported in the consolidated
reporting system on August 9, 2000.
2

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement:

         (a) The Annual Report of the Registrant on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999.

         (b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), since December 31, 1999.

         (c) The Description of the Registrant's Securities to be Registered
section from the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 1990, filed pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Exchange Act.

         All documents filed by the Company subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which
deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         The following is a summary of each statute, bylaw provision and
insurance policy under which a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant may be entitled to indemnification against liabilities in his
capacity as such.

Georgia Corporation Law

         Sections 14-2-851 through 14-2-859 of the Georgia Business Corporation
Code (the "Georgia Code") generally provide that a corporation may indemnify any
director, officer, employee or agent against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with any action to which he is made a party by
reason of his being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation if such person acted in a manner he believed in good faith to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and in the case of a
criminal action had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
However, if the action is brought by or in the right of the corporation, the
Georgia Code provides that indemnification of directors shall be limited to the
reasonable expenses incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding.
No indemnification shall be provided any director as to any claim, issue, or
matter brought by or in the right of the corporation as to which such person
shall have been adjudged to have been liable to the corporation, or in any other
proceeding in which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable on the
basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, unless and to the
extent that the court in which the suit was brought or other

                                      -2-
3

court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined upon application that,
despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of
the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the court shall deem proper. The Georgia Code also provides that
to the extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on
the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred
to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith.

         In addition, Section 14-2-202 of the Georgia Code permits a corporation
to include in its articles of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting
the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for
monetary damages, for breach of duty of care or other duty as a director, except
(i) for any appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business
opportunity of the corporation, (ii) for acts or omissions which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for liability under
Section 14-2-832 of the Georgia Code (involving certain distributions), or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director received an improper benefit.

Charter Provisions

         Article IV of the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation
limits the personal liability of a director of the Registrant or its
shareholders as provided in Section 14-2-202 of the Georgia Code.

Restated By-laws Provisions

         Article VI, Section 1, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that the Registrant shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
(other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
or serving in any of such capacities at the Registrant's request in another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against
expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant, and
with respect to any criminal action, if he had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful.

         Article VI, Section 2 of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that the Registrant shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action by
or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor by reason
of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant or was serving in any of such capacities at the request of the
Registrant with any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably

                                      -3-
4

incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Registrant, except that in respect of any claim, issue
or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Registrant,
indemnification will be permitted only to the extent that the court in which the
action was brought finds that despite the adjudication of liability but in view
of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

         Article VI, Section 3 of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
shall be successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Registrant's
Restated By-laws or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall
be indemnified against expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

         Article VI, Section 4 of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI (unless ordered by
a court) shall be made by the Registrant only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or
agent is proper in the circumstances because he had met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI. Such determination shall
be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting
of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable but a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the shareholders.

         Article VI, Section 5, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding may be paid by the Registrant in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors in the
manner provided in Section 4 of Article VI upon receipt of an undertaking by or
on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount
unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified
by the Registrant as authorized in Article VI, and, if such person is a
director, upon receipt of a written affirmation of such director's good faith
belief that he has met the standards of conduct required by the Georgia Code.

         Article VI, Section 6, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
indemnified may be entitled under any agreement, vote of shareholders, or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or
agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators
of such person.

                                      -4-
5

         Article VI, Section 7, of the Registrant's Restated By-laws provides
that the Board of Directors may authorize, by a vote of the majority of the full
board, the Registrant to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or was
serving in any of such capacities at the request of the Registrant with any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Registrant would have the
power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of Article
VI.

Insurance

         The Registrant maintains Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance
policies which provide for payment by the insurers for losses arising from any
claim or claims against an officer or director of the Registrant by reason of
any actual or alleged breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement, misleading
statement, omission or other act done or wrongfully attempted by them in such
capacities, in connection with any matter claimed against them solely by reason
of their serving in any of such capacities, but only when the Registrant is
required or permitted by law to pay amounts as indemnity to the directors and
officers.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS
Regulation S-K
Reference No.
--------------
4.1      Restated Articles of Incorporation of Crawford & Company (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to Registrant's quarterly report on Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1991).

4.2      Restated By-laws of Crawford & Company, as amended (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
         for the quarter ended June 30, 1999).

4.3      Crawford & Company 1997 Key Employee Stock Option Plan, as amended and
         restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix A on page A-1 of
         Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
         held on April 25, 2000).

5.1      Opinion of Registrant's counsel regarding legality of shares.

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.2     Consent of Registrant's counsel (contained in opinion filed as Exhibit
         5.1).
-5-
6

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                  (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement; and

                  (iii)    To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

                  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

         (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3)      To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

(b)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against

                                      -6-
7

such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on the 25th day of July,
2000.

                                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY
                                                  (Registrant)

                                           By:  /s/  ARCHIE MEYERS, JR.
                                               --------------------------------
                                                Archie Meyers, Jr., Chairman of
                                                the Board and Chief Executive
                                                Officer

                                      -7-
8

         Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                           TITLE                                    DATE
/s/ ARCHIE MEYERS, JR.                          Chairman of the Board,                         July 25, 2000
------------------------------                  Chief Executive Officer,
Archie Meyers, Jr.                              (Principal Executive
                                                Officer) and Director

/s/ J. F. GIBLIN                                Executive Vice President                       July 25, 2000
------------------------------                  - Finance (Principal
John F. Giblin                                  Financial Officer)

/s/ W. B. SWAIN                                 Senior Vice President                          August 10, 2000
------------------------------                  and Controller (Principal
W. B. Swain                                     Accounting Officer)

/s/  GROVER L. DAVIS                             Director                                      July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Grover L. Davis

/s/  F. L. MINIX                                 Director                                      July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Forrest L. Minix

/s/ JESSE C. CRAWFORD                            Director                                      July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Jesse C. Crawford
-8-
9
SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                    DATE
/s/ J. HICKS LANIER                                   Director                                  July 25, 2000
------------------------------
J. Hicks Lanier

/s/ CHARLES FLATHER                                   Director                                  July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Charles Flather

/s/ LINDA K. CRAWFORD                                 Director                                  July 25, 2000
------------------------------
Linda K. Crawford

/s/ LARRY L. PRINCE
------------------------------                        Director                                  July 25, 2000
Larry L. Prince

/s/ JOHN A. WILLIAMS
------------------------------                        Director                                  July 25, 2000
John A. Williams

/s/ E. JENNER WOOD, III
-------------------------------                       Director                                  July 25, 2000
E. Jenner Wood, III
-9-
10

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------
Sequential
Exhibit                             Documents                                                        Page Number
-------                             ---------                                                        -----------
4.1      Restated Articles of Incorporation of Crawford & Company (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to Registrant's quarterly report on Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1991).

4.2      Restated By-laws of Crawford & Company, as amended (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
         for the quarter ended June 30, 1999).

4.3      Crawford & Company 1997 Key Employee Stock Option Plan as amended and
         restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix A on Page A-1 of
         Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
         held April 25, 2000).

5.1      Opinion of Registrant's counsel regarding legality of shares.                                      11

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                                                                    12

23.2     Consent of Registrant's counsel (contained in opinion filed as Exhibit
         5.1).