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
Use Your Time & Energy Wisely
Aside from money, there are 2 things people always claim to have in short supply: time and energy. Over time, I've learned to guard these as truly precious commodities, even more so than money. Why? Because you can always make more money, but you can't gain back time you've lost or energy that's been wasted. This mindset should apply to all areas of life-- at work, at home and with the company you choose to keep. Over the last few years, I've been very fortunate professionally to get to the point where I can pick the projects that I want to work on, and those are the ones that I find worthy of my time and energy. Similarly at home, I have carved out huge chunks of time that I want to dedicate to my family because I know these years are precious. The fact is time is not on our side with respect to our loved ones. Those of us that are GenX are facing 2 stark realities: (1) our parents are getting up there in age and (2) our kids will soon be teenagers, who will want to spend more time with their friends, and less time with us, especially once they head off to college. One of my strategies in life that has always served me well is to look forward into the [...]
What Should You Expect in a Divorce Consult?
It seems a lot of people are unclear about the process for setting up a consult with an attorney. From the attorney's point of view, let me just tell you that I can learn a lot in just a few seconds based on how that first phone call is conducted. Anyone who just assumes that I can talk to them on the spot or will give them free advice over the phone is not the right client for me. Those that respect boundaries and the profession understand that you need to set up a time to talk, and you should ask what the consult fee is in advance because there is quite a range, and it is your job as a client to know what you can or cannot afford. Often times, the only thing people want is one hour of my time to hear the facts of their case, and then give them an overview of the law and legal process. Any good attorney should be able to do this within one hour-- highlight the main legal issues you need to address and explain how the legal system works. These consults should be empowering because knowledge is power-- you should leave knowing exactly what your rights and obligations are in the event of a divorce. Then, you can plan your next move. [...]
Some Key Pointers with Online Dating
Many wonder how I've become an expert at playing 20 questions-- the answer should be obvious: every day for the last 15 years, I've talked to complete strangers about their marriages and then guided them through the divorce process. It is my job to get as much background information as possible, assess the present situation, and then help my clients develop a plan for the future they envision. My clients come from all walks of life, divorce does not discriminate in terms of socio-economic class or ethnicity. So, thanks to all my clients, I truly have learned to talk to just about anyone and understand people from diverse backgrounds. After my own divorce a few years ago, it's really no surprise that some of games we play in the dating world came quite easily to me-- but I'll admit that even after all this time, I've never fully embraced online dating. However, I do recognize that 1 in 5 couples meet this way, and so for those of you brave enough to take on this endeavor, here are a few tips: 1. Pictures Matter- We are all visual creatures, although they say guys are much more so than women. Well if that is the case, I truly don't understand what some guys are thinking with the pictures they post. Seriously- can't you find someone, anyone to take a good picture with [...]
Shifting Down as Co-Parents is Never Easy
Not all break-ups are bad, some are actually quite civil and mutual. The same is true with divorces, but the tricky thing is that if you have kids, you can't just walk away and cease having any further contact. In fact for the rest of your lives, you will have to stay in contact, and you have to do your best to keep things amicable for the sake of the children. The problem a lot of my divorce clients face is accepting that they have lost their ranking in the other person's life, and that's because it isn't easy to shift down in a relationship, but it can be done. Here are 4 simple tips: 1. New Rules of Communication- One of the main reasons a relationship fails is because the couple failed to communicate effectively, and many developed some really bad habits in the end. Well, your new roles require new rules. Here are 4 simple ones: 1) no name calling; 2) no blame games-- don't re-hash the past, focus on the future; 3) take turns listening to each other's concerns without interruption; and 4) no threats. If someone starts to violate these rules, you hang up or walk away. Eventually if the other person wants to be heard, s/he will learn to play by the new rules. 2. Learn to Enjoy the Quiet- [...]