Ozment Merrill

No stress here. All of my legal proceedings were handled in a professional and timely manner. I am completely satisfied with Attorney Ozment and his support staff. I have also referred other clients to his office. They have been just as satisfied. Attorney Ozment takes the time to hear your concerns and work with you on a compassionate level. I highly recommend his office. more

I first went to Ozment/Merrill when my debt got out of control and I had no clue where to turn. Thanks to the knowledgeable and experienced staff my stress was quickly relieved. The hard working staff from attorneys to the receptionist made my life so much easier. The quick action of this team took care of every detail of my bankruptcy in no time at all. Now I am going through a foreclosure and the only people I trust in this matter is Drake Ozment and his team. I wouldn't go anywhere else. more

Due to medical bills, in 2007, I contemplated bankruptcy. I contacted Drake Ozment. I pondered over it and decided I would rather try and work it out myself. Then in January 2008 I had a bad accident which resulted in more medical bills. I contacted Drake Ozment again, and in June of 2008 he filed my bankruptcy. \r Upon filing the bankruptcy petition, I was informed I needed to file for tax years 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, which I did. I started making bankruptcy payments of $124.66. Several months later I was informed I needed to send in an additional payment of $419.52 and my payments would go up to $209.76 to include the amount owed to the IRS. I paid it off and it was discharged in 4/13. After the discharge, I called this firm to ask them if there was anything else I needed to do. The reply I received was “No”. \r Shortly after, I received 5 certified letters from the IRS stating that I owed them over 15K. \r I made an appointment and was seated with a junior attorney, Matthew Girardi, who tried to explain this. He told me years 2005-2007 were included but the three previous years were not and those were the years they wanted payment for. \r He informed me that “99% of the time they discharge those years” He also stated “This never happens” and “Only twice this has happened”. So which is it? \r I was informed by an IRS rep that they always do this. A brief summary of Bankruptcy Code 11 USC 523 (a)(1)(B)(i): A discharge does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt for any tax with respect to which a return was not filed or given. \r I am sure Drake Ozment was trying to get me the lowest possible payment but, I would’ve had no problem paying more over the last 5 years so I could be done with it now, but now I am faced with it not being over. I am still liable because it was not included in the plan. I am going to pay not only what should have been included in the plan, but the interest that has accrued over the last 5 years that I did not know about and future accruing interest. \r I am not one to gamble with my financial future, nor do I think my attorney should. Will they, won’t they, they are!\r I paid this man $3000 and put my trust in him to help me through this. In my opinion, Drake Ozment was negligent and I would not recommend him.\r Since my initial review of this attorney, he e-mailed me. His e-mail was a bit judgmental, stating that I was engaging in “unlawful action” \r because I did not file my returns on time. I am very aware that I did not file my returns on time. I had no intention to evade paying for those years, but sometimes things in peoples’ lives prevent them from doing the right thing. This man had no idea what was going on in my life those years. When I did file them, I was glad I was finally going to be able to take care of it. We pay attorneys to help us, not be judgmental. \r \r more

Having retained many attorneys over the years as Managing Editor of The Bradenton Herald, Director of Communications for Tropicana Products, Inc., and for 16 years as Associate Pastor of a large church, I have found Drake Ozment and his firm to be the best and the most professional! I have referred them to relatives and friends. Their friendly staff makes your contacts pleasant and everyone gets special treatment. Their fees are low and workable. I highly recommend this outstanding firm. more

This law office is the best by far, they file my bankruptcy in 2011 i was nervous didn't know anything about this issue. But Drake Ozment quickly answer all my questions and then some, everything went fine I move out of state and i had a tax problem come up.(owe taxes) little did i know that these attorneys don't just those you aside because you are no longer in the state of florid, I had no problem reaching them on a conference call, and because my bankruptcy is still open they are advising. more

Mr. Ozment and his wonderful team let me feel certain that I had come to the right place. This was a very stressful and difficult time. My questions and concerns were answered. My calls were returned. I will refer clients to your office. thank you. more

Mr. Ozment and his wonderful team let me feel certain that I had come to the right place. This was a very stressful and difficult time. My questions and concerns were answered. My calls were returned. I will refer clients to your office. thank you. more

Amanda was wonderful in how she handled the whole process . Hopefully we will close this time after numerous extensions more

Amanda was wonderful in how she handled the whole process . Hopefully we will close this time after numerous extensions more

I am local realtor and have used Drake's real estate title services for a number of closings ranging from $200,000.00 to $4,000,000.00, including in house short sale negotiations on several deals. Drake and his staff are super to work with and professional all the way. I would recommend them to anyone buying or selling a home. The title company goes above and beyond to ensure a smooth and successful closing! more

I am local realtor and have used Drake's real estate title services for a number of closings ranging from $200,000.00 to $4,000,000.00, including in house short sale negotiations on several deals. Drake and his staff are super to work with and professional all the way. I would recommend them to anyone buying or selling a home. The title company goes above and beyond to ensure a smooth and successful closing! more

My husband and I realized that we had no other avenue than filing bankruptcy back in fall of 2009. We went to a couple of places in Ft. lauderdale and it felt like boiler room and you were a number. Your cost were this, than this and than more. You never knew cut and dry what you would be paying. In March 2010, we met with Mr. Ozmet. The office was quite and intimate and it was a personal attention. The cost were printed on a 5 x 7 sheet, and simple to calculate. When we went to court with Tonie in attendance. We felt all people resource their life saving and at the end come to the same pathway. Before and after this I found that it was a little difficult getting answers. I just felt that the office was getting drown in cases like ours. We dealt with WPB until last year and have found Port. St. Lucie more accomadating; maybe because a slower client base?? A couple of times I was given Paul to answer questions and he was most helpful and took call while I waited too. Then when we were s more

My husband and I realized that we had no other avenue than filing bankruptcy back in fall of 2009. We went to a couple of places in Ft. lauderdale and it felt like boiler room and you were a number. Your cost were this, than this and than more. You never knew cut and dry what you would be paying. In March 2010, we met with Mr. Ozmet. The office was quite and intimate and it was a personal attention. The cost were printed on a 5 x 7 sheet, and simple to calculate. When we went to court with Tonie in attendance. We felt all people resource their life saving and at the end come to the same pathway. Before and after this I found that it was a little difficult getting answers. I just felt that the office was getting drown in cases like ours. We dealt with WPB until last year and have found Port. St. Lucie more accomadating; maybe because a slower client base?? A couple of times I was given Paul to answer questions and he was most helpful and took call while I waited too. Then when we were s more

I have worked for many small and large law firms, but Drake Ozment's office is the best law office I have ever come across in my entire 28 years being a paralegal working in the field. Drake and his staff exceeded our expectations on preparing our ch 7 bankruptcy in a timely fashion. Everything Mr Ozment told us was true and he 100% lived up to his word. And what a nice guy. more

I have worked for many small and large law firms, but Drake Ozment's office is the best law office I have ever come across in my entire 28 years being a paralegal working in the field. Drake and his staff exceeded our expectations on preparing our ch 7 bankruptcy in a timely fashion. Everything Mr Ozment told us was true and he 100% lived up to his word. And what a nice guy. more

Drake has been my lawyer for several matters over the past ten years. He is fantastic. He has always helped me and many times prepared legal documents right in front of my eyes. He has always been available to see me for anything i needed to discuss with him and never charged a consultation fee. Drake and his staff have always handled things professionally, quickly and got the job done. I couldnt have gotten by without his help.I can say enough about this law firm. more

Drake has been my lawyer for several matters over the past ten years. He is fantastic. He has always helped me and many times prepared legal documents right in front of my eyes. He has always been available to see me for anything i needed to discuss with him and never charged a consultation fee. Drake and his staff have always handled things professionally, quickly and got the job done. I couldnt have gotten by without his help.I can say enough about this law firm. more

I'm a recently widowed mother of 3, and I came to this lawyer to help me file for bankrupcy after the death of my loving husband and all the medical bills which followed. Also, he was the sole supporter of the family, and I was forced to go out into the workplace in this terrible ecomony and seek a job after 19 years as a homemaker. The bills simply overwhelmed myself and my family. $8 an hour doesnt go very far.\r \r Anyway, this dishonest lawyer talked me into going into a Chapter 13 bankrupcy. He frightened me into believing that I was going to loose my 2001 Toyota Corola if I filed for Chapter 7, which I later found out was a TOTAL LIE!! He deceived me into filing for Chapter 13 so he could make more than $3,000 on his attorney fee, where Chapter 7 would have cost me less than half! When I learned of what he did I went to a totally honest lawyer who changed my case to a Chatper 7, which I should have been told to do right from the beginning.\r \r I am preparing to file a Bar compliant more

I'm a recently widowed mother of 3, and I came to this lawyer to help me file for bankrupcy after the death of my loving husband and all the medical bills which followed. Also, he was the sole supporter of the family, and I was forced to go out into the workplace in this terrible ecomony and seek a job after 19 years as a homemaker. The bills simply overwhelmed myself and my family. $8 an hour doesnt go very far.\r \r Anyway, this dishonest lawyer talked me into going into a Chapter 13 bankrupcy. He frightened me into believing that I was going to loose my 2001 Toyota Corola if I filed for Chapter 7, which I later found out was a TOTAL LIE!! He deceived me into filing for Chapter 13 so he could make more than $3,000 on his attorney fee, where Chapter 7 would have cost me less than half! When I learned of what he did I went to a totally honest lawyer who changed my case to a Chatper 7, which I should have been told to do right from the beginning.\r \r I am preparing to file a Bar compliant more

First-Rate Liar!! Let me wholeheartedly agree with the reviewers who told of their miserable experiences with this lawyer and his law firm. I'm a recently widowed mother of 3, and I came to this lawyer to help me file for bankrupcy after the death of my loving husband and all the medical bills which followed. Also, he was the sole supporter of the family, and I was forced to go out into the workplace in this terrible ecomony and seek a job after 19 years as a homemaker. The bills simply overwhelmed myself and my family. $8 an hour doesnt go very far. Anyway, this dishonest lawyer talked me into going into a Chapter 13 bankrupcy. He frightened me into believing that I was going to loose my 2001 Toyota Corola if I filed for Chapter 7, which I later found out was a TOTAL LIE!! He deceived me into filing for Chapter 13 so he could make more than $3000 on his attorney fee, where Chapter 7 would have cost me less than half! When I learned of what he did I went to a totally honest lawyer who changed my case to a Chatper 7, which I should have been told to do right from the beginning. I am preparing to file a Bar compliant against this lawyer right now. He is ABOLUTELY the most under-handed and distrustful lawyer that there could ever be!!! He relies on his good looks and trusting smile to RIP YOU OFF!!! I cannot believe that lawyers like this are being allowed to practice!! If I ever do anything right in my entire life again, it would be to WARN the public about Drake Ozment!! PLEASE do yourself a BIG FAVOR and STAY CLEAR of this guy!!! He will do to you what he did to me!!!!! BTW, any ""good"" reviews here HAD to be written from somebody in his office!!! Will his lying NEVER END????? God bless... more