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
Sexual Escapades- where do you draw the line?
Let's face it, after 15 years I've just about heard or seen it all as a divorce lawyer. Unlike most in this town, I actually do know what goes on behind close doors. You can talk to me about multiple affairs, threesomes, swinging, cross-dressing, whatever, it's not going to make me blush at work. I've learned to suspend all judgment and maybe even freed myself of some of that old Catholic guilt that I grew up with-- but let's be real, I know that my family reads this blog, and I'm not going to dish about my past exploits here, although I must give props to my Jerry Maguire (who had me at hello) and Christian Grey (who was much gentler than the version in 50 Shades of Grey) for broadening my horizons in my late 30s. Nooners on the Hill really do happen, and many people in DC have a friend with benefits on speed dial. Scenes like the ones in House of Cards really do occur on a regular basis here. These are the facts of life, especially here in our nation's capitol. Again, I'm not here to pass judgment, but I do think we need to ask ourselves: where are we going to set the limits in our own lives? Who cares what the rest are doing? Focus on what you yourself can live with or not. For people [...]
Diamonds in the Rough
Let's face it, until we hit our late 20's, we are all diamonds in the rough. When I met my ex-husband, I was 20 years old-- not even done with college, nothing in savings, and no idea where I was going to work after graduation. I mainly wore jeans and had never been to a gala in my life. Obviously the guys I date now are getting involved with a completely different person. What I cherish most about the love story with my ex-husband is that he truly just loved my company. We may not have had much in the beginning, but we had each other. Meanwhile, his mom, whom I deeply admired, was an important executive in the retail world, and she is the one who took me under her wing and introduced me to fashion, make-up and spas. One could say she is greatly responsible for polishing the stone her son found. I got married while I was still in law school, and I didn't even have a clue what type of law I wanted to practice. To my husband, that didn't matter, as long as I was happy. That unconditional love and support is what became the wing beneath my wings that allowed me to fly. Fifteen years later, even though we are not together, I look back with great fondness at that young love [...]
Forgive, But Never Forget
Today, I was honored to present to the Fresh Start students of Living Classrooms on the subject of forgiveness. Unlike the common adage "forgive and forget," I have a very different take on forgiveness. Forgiveness-- what is it NOT: 1. it is not about forgetting; 2. it is not about excusing bad behavior; 3. it is not about becoming vulnerable again; and 4. it is not about continuing to have a relationship with someone. What is it about then? It is a process of leting go. It is multi-layered. It is an individual choice-- no one can force it on you. There is a difference between acknowledging someone's apology and accepting it-- and a lot depends on the reasons behind the apology. Is someone truly seeking forgiveness or do they just want to sleep better at night because life is all about them? Forgiveness is a key component of love, and it is necessary to finding peace. It is a gift-- mainly to yourself. It is about putting something behind you so that you can move forward. More than anything, it is meant to lighten your load. Holding grudges is a heavy burden to bear, and it will wear you down. There are 3 steps to forgiveness: 1. Identify the source of anger/pain; 2. try to understand a person's motive or intent; 3. Weigh [...]
A Special Father’s Day Ahead
It's been 40 years now that I have lived with only one name on my birth certificate-- but that will soon be fixed next month. For those who missed the posts from two years ago, I will quickly summarize this soap opera story: my parents met on a cruise ship 40 years ago, and 9 months later I was born out of wedlock. To spare me any pain, I was told growing up that my dad was dead. Funny thing about secrets-- most eventually do come out, and after many years of unanswered questions, I finally tracked him down and took a DNA test in March 2011. The story does have a very happy ending, and I suppose I could just leave it at that, but there is something to be said for having it officially recognized-- even if it is four decades after the fact! So, next month I finally have a hearing date in New York, where hopefully a judge will enter an order adding my father's name to my birth certificate. I can only hope this goes through without any further issues, because honestly I've been through enough melodrama to last me a lifetime getting to this point. The funny thing is, as a family law attorney, I can truly appreciate just how far our court system has come in terms of helping [...]