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
Saying Good-bye Is Never Easy
It may take two to say "I do," but you only need one to say it's over. This is a harsh reality that many of my divorce clients grapple with during our first meeting, and often the one leaving gets villified for being the one to abandon his/her family, break the vows, and take the easy way out. But let me just stop right here-- the easy way out is not so simple, and leavers will often have a tremendous amount of guilt and doubt to work through long after the divorce is over. It may take them years to recover emotionally and/or financially after calling it quits, and yet the only regret is usually not having pulled the plug sooner. Why? Let me try to help you understand things from this perspective... Imagine you walked down the aisle thinking you were the luckiest person in the world. You were marrying your best friend and thought you would spend the rest of your lives together and be happy. And things may have been really good for a while, and there was a lot of fun and laughter in those early years when you were both still young and relatively carefree. Yet, ever so slowly, things started to change, and soon you found yourself in the position of being a nag. Or maybe the stress of work or raising kids created this [...]
What’s Your Kryptonite?
The other day, I was talking to one of my girlfriends about the various opportunities that have presented themselves in the dating world over the past few months, and it was really funny when I mentioned a younger man, she instantly perked up and leaned in to warn me, "watch out- those young ones are like kryptonite." I laughed out loud, and then assured her that I'm actually well aware of my kryptonite-- brainiacs in their 40's with light eyes, who clearly work out and dress well. For someone that always seems to have something to say, I promise you a few of these guys have rendered me speechless at first glance. Luckily, I recover quickly. Whatever your kyptonite is, I encourage you to learn to be really aware of it, and then do your best to not let your emotions cloud your judgment. Life is about learning to discipline your emotions, unless you want to lead a completely chaotic life that always makes you feel out of control. If you feel this way, it is because you have relinquished too much power to others, and you have not figured out a way to rein in your emotions. This is not a skill they teach in school, it's something you have to learn over time with experience. Sadly, some never learn this lesson. Too many people yield to the temptation [...]
Post-Divorce Dating 101
There is a definite difference between guys & girls when it comes to post-divorce dating. Most of my female clients cringe when I mention it, whereas most of my male clients jump right to that issue before I've even gotten to the point that dating while you are still married can be a tricky issue legally, let alone emotionally. Why such a stark difference? Well, mainly because women are more likely going to take a bit longer to process their emotions, and the loss associated with the divorce. Guys on the other hand, well let's just say they are far more apt to look for love in all the wrong places while they sort things out. I'm not knocking the strategy at all-- I actually quite understand the need to conquer and rebuild the ego quickly, and to be honest, girls may want to take a page from their book and get back on the scene sooner rather than later. At whatever rate, and through whatever method you decide to jump back into dating, just be kind to yourself. It is going to take some time to re-learn the art of flirting, especially with all the advances in modern technology. Trial and error is the only way you will find your mojo, but if I can suggest one thing it is that you try to do no harm. Be conscious [...]
Why Does Marriage Counseling Fail So Often?
I have not kept track with complete accuracy, but over the last 15 years in my divorce consults I can safely estimate that over 75% of my clients have sought counseling long before they ever came to see me and decided to call it quits. This begs the question then, with so many great resources, including seminars and books out there about how to make your marriage last, and so many skilled professionals ready to help couples work through their issues, how is it that over 50% of these couples still wind up getting divorced? The answer is quite simple: they waited too long. When too much damage has been done to a relationship, there comes a point where you just can't turn back and undo all those little acts that on their own might have seemed minor, yet when put together, grossly tipped the scales in favor of getting out and ending the pain rather than staying in and risking further injury to your ego or mental health. According to Dr. Peck, it is normal to fall out of love-- but as soon as that honeymoon phase ends, that is when the real work needs to begin. As soon as you find that your partner is starting to irritate you, you can't dig your head in the sand. You have to be honest with [...]