DC and MD Matrimonial Lawyer Focusing on Custody, Divorce and Prenups
For over 20 years, Regina A. DeMeo has been helping families in MD and DC with custody and divorce issues either through mediation, litigation or advocacy. She is an alumna of Georgetown University and GW University Law School, who is nationally recognized as a top matrimonial attorney. She is frequently quoted in the media for her ideas to promote healthier relationships and featured in the Washington Post, ABA Journal and Bethesda Magazine for her care and commitment to her clients. As a legal commentator, she has appeared on Washington Post Express Facebook Live, ABC tv, Good Morning America, MMCTV, YouTube and Sirius XM, and has been quoted in various magazines, books and journals across the country.
Regina offers appointments in Maryland and DC. Her areas of practice include:
Latest Blog Posts by GenXSmartie
What Do You Really Want?
Some days, I find myself feeling a bit like a Spice Girl about to break into the song, "Wannabe." Sadly, I cannot sing to save my life, but seriously if I had to pick one line that bears repeating over and over again it is this: tell me what you want, what you really really want. It would be so much easier, both professionally and personally, if people would just be more honest about their goals, but I'm not sure that people are always blatantly dishonest-- instead, I think the problem is that often we may not be fully aware or honest with ourselves about our true capacities or what will make us happy. When you are a bit fuzzy, they say process of elimination is a good tactic to implement, and indeed I have often found that it is much easier to figure out what I don't want versus what I do want. So for example, I can say for sure that I'm not really looking for a booty call, friends with benefit, spouse within the next 18 months, or a romantic partner that wants to keep his options open. I guess that is a good start, but it still doesn't answer the million dollar question I keep getting asked, which is :what do you want? Professionally and personally the last few years I have questioned a lot of preconceived notions, and it turns out a lot [...]
2 Key Travel Tips for Single Parents
Spring is almost here, and summer is finally right around the corner. Now while most parents are busy making sure the kids have a nice home with all the basic necessities, great schools and fun summer camp plans, way too often they either overlook the importance of their own travel plans or they avoid trips with the kids because they think it's just too complicated. This is a big mistake. My two key points for single parents are: (1) with little kids, keep it simple and just have a good time; and (2) make some fun trip plans just for yourself, you not only deserve a break, you need it to maintain your own sanity! My son was only 2 when I got divorced, and so to avoid a lot of complications, over the last 8 years I mainly traveled with him to destinations that were no more than 4 hours away either by plane, train or car. Wherever we went, I tried to either meet up with friends or family for at least part of the trip so that it would not be so lonely-- but I have to warn you that whenever you go to a family-friendly destination like Disney or the beach, there will inevitably be a little bit of a sting when you see yourself surrounded by intact families. Don't try to ignore the sting, just acknowledge that there is a [...]
Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best
If there is one thing we all have drilled into us in law school it is this: plan for the worst, hope for the best. Obviously those of us that finish law school are armed with something extra that non-lawyers lack: the ability to build into legal contracts provisions to minimize the damage in the event things do not work out. It's not that we are hoping there will be any issues, it's just that we've seen (or read about) too many situations that fall apart, and when that happens, we would prefer to reduce the uncertainty of how to handle a bad break-up, either in the business world or in someone's personal life. Most of my law school friends actually went the corporate route, which is far more lucrative than family law. But I have always enjoyed working with individuals on a personal level, and ever since I was a child I craved to understand family dynamics-- how they are formed, how they fall apart, and how we can restructure them. As people have told me their stories throughout the years, I've formed visuals in my head, which I'm able to fast-forward to the end and play out different scenarios-- some with happy endings, some with not so happy endings, then I'm able to work backwards from those and try to find ways to prevent the [...]
Stressed Out? Find Your Serenity Now.
I used to think it was just my job that kept me around stressed out individuals, but alas, maybe it's this city. Everyone in DC seems incredibly burdened with projects, deadlines, a million different commitments and not enough time to do it all. But as an outsider looking into people's lives every day, I cannot avoid asking this simple question: is it all worth it? Seriously, is killing yourself really worth the prize you are being promised? Stress causes disease, plain and simple. When you are not at ease, it will physically impact you. Some signs your psychological stress is wearing on you include: hair loss, migraines, skin disorders, compromised immune systems, heart conditions, stomach problems, panic attacks, ulcers, eating disorders, and oh yes, even cancer. It is not a coincidence that my divorce clients are often also battling serious illnesses, and that is why I encourage them to avoid litigation if possible-- for their own well-being, not just to save them money. The fact is that you can always make more money, but you cannot buy another life. According to a recent Money Magazine article 43% of the working population either want to switch careers or find a new job. Well, I sincerely hope these people work on that goal right away because work consumes a huge part of our lives, and if you don't [...]