S1:E15 – MARCO BROWN "Top Divorce Mistakes Every Judge Hates"

Divorce tips, divorce attorney advice, and the divorce mistakes to avoid — straight from an award-winning family law attorney who's handled thousands of cases. Utah divorce lawyer Marco Brown, founding partner of Brown Family Law and Utah's Outstanding Family Law Lawyer of the Year, joins Becky Sampson on the Divorcing Strong™ Podcast to pull back the curtain on what really happens inside divorce cases — and what you can control to change your outcome.

Marco Brown didn't plan to become a divorce attorney. He grew up in a village of 85 people in Alaska — a place where kids weren't expected to become lawyers. But when a close friend called in crisis and needed help getting divorced, Marco stayed up until 3 a.m., teaching himself family law. They won. And that one case changed the trajectory of his career. Today, he runs one of Utah's most respected family law firms with over 1,000 five-star client reviews — and in this conversation, he holds nothing back.

This episode is a masterclass in what your divorce attorney wishes you knew before your first consultation. Marco explains why most people choose the wrong lawyer, how your own behavior directly impacts your case timeline and cost, what "fighting for everything" actually costs you, and the moment in 2015 when — after winning Utah's top family law award — he realized his approach to running a practice was broken and rebuilt it from the ground up.

Whether you're about to file, mid-process and frustrated, or just trying to understand how divorce actually works — this is the episode that gives you the insider playbook.

🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to choose the right divorce attorney — and the red flags that signal you've picked the wrong one
• The divorce mistakes that cost clients the most money, time, and emotional energy
• Why the most expensive attorney isn't always the best one — and what actually matters
• How your own preparedness and willingness to engage constructively can speed up (or stall) your entire case
• What "fighting for everything" really costs — and why high legal fees sometimes force the clarity you need
• Marco's 2015 wake-up call: winning Utah's top family law award while realizing his business model was burning out his team and hurting clients
• Why Marco limits attorney caseloads at his firm — and how that one decision transformed client outcomes
• The role of attorney-client communication: what to expect, what to demand, and when silence is a red flag
• How long divorce actually takes — and the factors that shorten or extend the timeline
• Marco's personal transformation: how a dramatic health and mindset shift changed his practice and his life
• Honest advice on what makes marriages work — from someone who's seen thousands fail

💡 This Episode Is For You If:

• You're looking for a divorce attorney and don't know how to evaluate your options
• You're already in the process and wondering if your lawyer is doing a good job
• You want to understand how the divorce process actually works from the inside — timeline, costs, and strategy
• You're overwhelmed by the legal system and need someone to explain it without jargon
• You want to hear from an attorney who'll be honest about the industry's problems — not just sell you services
• You need a reality check on what's worth fighting for and what's costing you more than it's worth

🎙️ About Our Guest: Marco Clayton Brown is the founding partner of Brown Family Law, LLC in Sandy, Utah. Named Utah's Outstanding Family Law Lawyer of the Year (2015), Marco holds a J.D. with Distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law and a B.S. in Psychology from Brigham Young University. He is the Editor of the Utah Journal of Family Law, former Chair of the Davis County Domestic Violence Coalition, and is licensed to practice in Utah, New Mexico, and multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. His firm has earned over 1,000 client reviews with a 4.8-star rating. Marco speaks English, Spanish, and Italian. 🔗 Learn more:

Brown Family Law — Marco Brown

🎧 About Divorcing Strong™ Podcast: 

Hosted by Becky Sampson, CEO of Only Subpoenas™, the Divorcing Strong™ Podcast is where real stories meet real strategies for surviving and thriving through divorce. Each episode brings expert insights from top divorce attorneys, family law specialists, financial planners, and healing coaches to help you protect your rights and step into YOU 2.0.

👉 Subscribe for more empowering divorce stories and strategies

👉 Learn more about working with Becky: https://beckysampson.com/

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BECKY SAMPSON

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🌺For information on working with Only Subpoenas™, visit our website at https://onlysubpoenas.com/ or contact us at this number: 650-910-6659 🌺

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: The content on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or mental health advice. Please consult a licensed attorney, financial advisor, or mental health professional for guidance specific to your situation. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, please get in touch with the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

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