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
Avoiding Disappointment on Valentine’s Day
In 2013, I am embracing the mantra that we are each responsible for our own happiness. I refuse to let others rain on my parade. With this in mind, I gently reminded my date about a week ago that Valentine's Day is coming up and that I'd like for us to celebrate with a dinner out. Understanding that we have other obligations, I wanted to make sure we picked a day that worked with our schedules, and then I asked whether he wanted to make the reservation or if I should-- it didn't matter to me either way, I just wanted it done. A week later, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that he had taken care of our plans, and then it struck me-- wow, I've come such a long way! Gone are the days when I expect anyone to read my mind, and I am no longer wasting time and energy worrying about whether plans are in the works or not. It is so much easier to just put it all out there, and I can only hope others wishing to remain sane will do the same. Valentines' Day is now three weeks away, and I"m sure most women are thinking about the lingerie they want to buy, the special something they will bake for their special someone, or the gift. If you are anything like me, the card and gift have already been purchased. Ok, [...]
Staying Positive– it’s more than just an attitude
Most people who know me consider me a pretty upbeat, energetic person, and yet if you delved into my life story there are plenty of moments when I could have gone to a very dark place. I know that I am not alone-- we all have challenges in life and our own crosses to bear, but the choice is solely ours as to how we let things affect us. This past weekend, as I gave my grandmother's eulogy, many may have been surprised that I did not cry once, and my voice barely cracked during my speech. It is not that I am made of steel, but I have survived all these years by always trying to focus on the positive. How many people get to grow up with their grandmother the way that I did? What a gift that she got to be with us for 97 years, and that my son will always have his special memories of being with her. She got to see me through most major stages of life, and what more could I ask for? Since I've returned from my trip to New York, I've focused on projects, both at work and home that give me things to look forward to-- it is my way of coping. In order to maintain a balanced attitude [...]
Why do some opt for a litigated divorce?
Most people want to avoid court and minimize their legal fees-- but it takes two willing parties to agree to work through their issues outside of court. If one party really wants his/her day in court, is not willing to be reasonable in the negotiation process, or simply is not realistic about his/her expectations regarding support, property division or custody, that is all it takes to drive the family into litigation. Here is the link to a 25 min. tv segment, where we covered why some people chose to litigate their divorce. http://mmctv.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=835
The Dark Side of Divorce
Tonight on Making It Last, I get to discuss the nasty part of my job-- litigation. Unlike in Collaborative cases or my mediated divorces, the cases that go to court are truly unpleasant. These are the 20% that could not resolve things amicably. Their anger often leaves me quite baffled as to how these people ever even fell in love and thought it would be a good idea to raise children together. By the time these parties are heading to the courthouse steps, there is a complete lack trust and they are usually very emotional. These are the most challenging clients, and sadly when they can't rein in their emotions, many will wind up spending much more than necessary by racking up legal fees fighting one court battle after another. I can understand that people would want to fight about custody-- if one person wants sole custody, or they can't agree on a time-sharing schedule, these are real concerns that any parent would want to address regardless of the sticker price, but the other issues really need to be viewed as a business transaction. Essentially what you have is a partnership that is dissolving, and as a result we have in most states pretty established guidelines for determing child support, alimony and property division. Sadly, there are some people who simply can't reach an agreement on these issues, and so they may [...]