Firm Background

Experienced. Strategic. Client-Focused.

Bronze Lady Justice statue with scales, sword, gavel, open books, dark bookshelf, and partial American flag.

Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A. is a divorce law firm serving individuals and families throughout Manatee County and Sarasota County, Florida only. For more than 27 years, Attorney Matthew Z. Martell has provided sophisticated, results-oriented professional representation for clients facing life-changing legal matters. Our law firm is built on the belief that clients deserve more than legal advice—they deserve honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, and a lawyer who genuinely cares about achieving the best possible outcome in their case.

Divorce and family law issues touch every part of a person’s life: their children, their finances, their home, their business, and their future. Our firm approaches each case with the seriousness and precision it deserves. Whether a client is navigating a high-asset divorce, seeking parental responsibility, negotiating a marital settlement agreement, or addressing complex financial matters, we provide the strategic guidance and attentive service required to move forward with clarity and confidence.

We proudly serve as a trusted resource for individuals, professionals, and small business owners throughout the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida metropolitan region. Our commitment to excellence, strong advocacy, and respect for our clients has earned our firm a reputation for ethical conduct, meticulous preparation, and superior legal representation. Families turn to us because we offer not only legal solutions but also stability, structure, and reassurance during some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

Our Mission: Delivering Integrity, Strength, and Exceptional Legal Service

At Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A., our mission is to guide clients through divorce matters with a combination of legal skill, compassion, and strategic insight. Family law cases often involve emotionally charged decisions and complicated financial dynamics. Our mission ensures every client receives clear explanations, high-level strategy, and unwavering support from the moment they contact our office.

Honesty and Transparency

We believe that strong representation begins with clarity. From the outset of every case, we provide clients with candid legal analysis, realistic expectations, and a full understanding of their rights and options. This direct approach allows clients to make informed decisions without confusion or uncertainty. Whether a client is considering divorce, responding to a divorce lawsuit, or planning to modify an existing order, we explain the process in a way that empowers their long-term best interests.

Dependability You Can Count On

Legal matters require timely action, and clients deserve a lawyer who is consistently accessible, responsive, and engaged. We manage deadlines diligently, return communications promptly, and proactively prepare for each stage of litigation and negotiation. Our clients know that we are working on their behalf every day, ensuring progress continues and no detail is overlooked.

Trustworthiness and Ethical Conduct

Clients share some of their most private concerns with us—financial details, marital difficulties, challenges involving their children, and more. We respect this trust and safeguard their confidentiality at all times. Our ethical obligations guide our practice and ensure that clients receive representation that honors the highest standards of professionalism. Trust is built through integrity, and integrity is foundational to every decision we make.

Hard Work and Determination

Our approach is rooted in thorough preparation and tireless effort. Whether analyzing financial records, drafting motions, preparing settlement proposals, or building a case for trial, we apply an exceptional level of focus and energy to every matter. Hard work is not a slogan; it is a defining principle of our practice and a key reason clients choose us with confidence.

Our Pledge to Our Clients

When clients choose our firm, they receive a pledge that reflects the heart of our practice. We commit:

To treat you with respect and courtesy throughout your case so you always feel heard, valued, and supported.
To provide competent, diligent representation consistent with the highest standards of the legal profession.
To offer independent, objective, and thoughtful legal advice tailored to your goals and circumstances.
To explain our fee structure clearly and transparently, with no hidden charges or unexpected bills.
To promptly return calls and emails, ensuring you always know the status of your case.
To keep you fully informed by providing copies of all significant documents and filings, and by explaining the meaning and impact of them.
To honor your decisions regarding settlement or litigation, within the bounds of the law and ethical rules.
To safeguard your private information with the utmost confidentiality, protecting sensitive family and financial details.
To adhere to the ethical obligations set by The Florida Bar, ensuring professionalism and integrity guide every aspect of our representation.

This pledge is more than a list of commitments—it serves as a daily reminder of the level of service our clients deserve.

Firm Background: A Focused Divorce Practice

Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A. is intentionally structured as a law firm dedicated exclusively to divorce matters in Manatee and Sarasota Counties only. This focused approach allows us to deliver a higher level of skill, preparation, and personal attention than firms that divide their efforts across many unrelated legal areas.

Our practice areas include:

Divorces often intersects with estate planning and business law, and also sometimes with civil litigation or asset protection. Attorney Martell’s extensive background in these areas strengthens our ability to handle complex divorce cases that require multi-disciplinary insight. This is one of the qualities that sets our firm apart: we understand the broader legal landscape surrounding a client’s divorce, not just the family law components.

Because we are highly selective and take on fewer clients, we are able to devote more time to each case. This ensures that legal strategies are thoughtful, preparation is thorough, and every client receives the personalized representation they deserve. Clients appreciate our ability to simplify complex legal issues and provide clear, structured guidance through each step of their case.

Firm History: More Than 27 Years of Dedicated Legal Experience

In 2000, Attorney Matthew Z. Martell founded Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A. after gaining valuable experience in an large AV-rated law firm in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, and a respected mid-sized law firm in Sarasota. His early exposure to extensive civil litigation equipped him with the skills and discipline required to excel in family law—an area where preparation, attention to detail, and strategic thinking matter greatly.

Attorney Martell earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law. Before becoming a licensed attorney, he clerked for a prosecutor’s office, a judge, a city attorney, and an insurance defense firm. These experiences provided a broad perspective on the legal system and refined his analytical and courtroom skills.

Over his career, Attorney Martell has represented clients in:

County courts
Circuit courts
Appellate courts
Federal district courts
Administrative law hearings
Proceedings before agencies including the EEOC, DOAH, and the Unemployment Appeals Commission

This extensive experience across multiple legal arenas enhances his ability to navigate complex divorce cases—particularly those involving business valuations, contested financial issues, and multifaceted legal disputes.

Attorney Martell also comes from a family deeply rooted in the legal profession. His father, a respected attorney who later became a judge, instilled in him a profound respect for the law, a commitment to fairness, and a dedication to ethical advocacy. That legacy influences the values of the firm today.

Our Approach: Strategic, Efficient, and Results-Oriented

Our firm’s approach to divorce is guided by three core principles: strategic analysis, efficient case management, and a balanced focus on settlement and litigation.

Strategic Analysis and Thorough Preparation

We invest significant time in understanding the facts, financial issues, and personal concerns involved in every case. This allows us to develop a tailored legal strategy that anticipates challenges, identifies opportunities, and aligns with the client’s long-term goals.

Efficiency and Timeliness

Divorce cases operate under deadlines. Delayed responses to mandatory disclosure or discovery, missed filings, or lack of preparation can damage a case. We prioritize timely action and maintain strict control over the pace and organization of each matter. Clients trust that their case is always progressing and that no detail is overlooked.

Settlement First, Litigation When Necessary

Most clients prefer resolution over conflict. We aim to settle cases when settlement is fair, reasonable, and aligned with the client’s needs. However, when trial is required, we prepare aggressively and thoroughly, ensuring the strongest possible presentation of our client’s position.

This balanced approach allows clients to achieve efficient and fair outcomes while minimizing unnecessary conflict and expense.

A Higher Standard of Client Service

Clients of Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A. receive direct access to the attorney they hired—not inexperienced associates or case managers. This hands-on approach ensures:

Consistent communication
Personalized representation
Clear guidance through each step of the process
Detailed attention to both legal and practical issues
A strong advocate who understands the full scope of the case

We accept fewer cases and are highly selective about the clients we take on specifically to uphold this standard. Clients consistently express gratitude for the level of attention, support, and clarity they receive throughout their case.

Our Service Area: Local Insight That Matters

We proudly represent clients throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties only, including:

Sarasota, Osprey, Siesta Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, Venice, South Venice, Manasota Key, Englewood, Casey Key, Nokomis, and surrounding areas.

Our firm’s familiarity with the local courts and regional procedures strengthens our ability to deliver effective, efficient representation.

Moving Forward With Confidence

Choosing the right divorce attorney is one of the most important decisions a person can make. At Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, P.A., we are committed to providing the strategic guidance, strong advocacy, and compassionate support clients need during challenging times. We help clients move forward with confidence—prepared, informed, and supported by an experienced legal professional.

Call (941) 556-7020 or contact us online to see if you qualify for our 15-minute free initial consultation. We are ready to help you navigate the next steps with clarity and strength.