UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 31, 2005

                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY
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            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     GEORGIA
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                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

             1-10356                                58-0506554
     ------------------------           ---------------------------------
     (Commission File Number)           (IRS Employer Identification No.)

               5620 Glenridge Drive, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30342
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               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (404) 256-0830
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

      Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

      [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

      [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

      [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

      [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM  2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

      On January 31, 2005, Crawford & Company (the "Company") issued a press
release containing information about the Company's financial condition, results
of operations, and cash flows for the fourth quarter of 2004 and year ended
December 31, 2004. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.

      The press release contains non-GAAP financial measures and a
reconciliation to the related GAAP measure is included. Operating earnings is
one of the key performance measures used by the Company's senior management to
evaluate the performance of its business and make resource allocation decisions.
The Company believes this measure is useful to investors in that it allows them
to evaluate its performance using the same criteria that management uses.

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)   Exhibits

      Exhibit No.                           Description

      99.1                                  Press Release dated January 31, 2005

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                      CRAWFORD & COMPANY
                                          (Registrant)

                                 By:  /s/ JOHN F. GIBLIN
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                      John F. Giblin
                                      Executive Vice President and
                                      Chief Financial Officer

Dated: January 31, 2005

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Number                                Descriptions

99.1                                  Press Release issued January 31, 2005

                                       3