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
Great Dates Don’t Need to Be Expensive
This may come as a shocker, but as much as I love dressing up and going out to a nice restaurant, some of my best dates have actually been super low-key and cheap. I love just staying home and cooking together-- no need to rush, you won't be disappointed in your meal, and afterwards you have a plethora of movie options thanks to Netflix streaming or On-Demand. On a beautiful day, for those of us fortunate enough to live in the DC Area, there are plenty of places to go for a hike surrounded by beautiful views. All you need are some crackers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and some water, together with a great companion to have a good time. Kayaking along the Potomac is also relatively inexpensive, and most of the musuems in DC are free. Soon we'll have free movies outdoors, and many places have free concerts on certain evenings. Walking along the river, touring the monuments at night, or taking a garden tour with a trip to the gelato store as a treat, are all great ways to enjoy your partner's company without breaking the bank. We all need to work on our love stories, and by no means do I mean to discard the importance of celebrating special occassions. What I do want to emphasize [...]
Divorce Does Not Discriminate
Over the past 14 years, I've learned so much about life from my clients-- and I think that is primarily because divorce impacts both genders of all races and socio-economic classes. No matter who you are, whether rich or poor, there is no way to truly insulate yourself from the possiblity of a divorce. 80% of Americans will marry, so approximately 40% of us will unfortunately have to deal with the sad reality that our vision of growing old "happily ever after" with our spouse has vanished. Putting aside the emotions, the economic reality of separating into two homes is never pleasant. There are issues of child and spousal support that need to be addressed, in addition to the division of assets and debt. These days unfortunately, there is a lot of debt to divide and far less assets now that home values are depressed. When couples split, all of the sudden a once comfortable lifestyle may disappear when they have to maintain two separate households. Since I don't believe in sugar-coating things, I don't hide these realities from my clients, and in my opinion it is best to realize early on which battles are worth fighting and which ones are not. The only ones that truly gain from long, drawn out battles are the lawyers going to court. The [...]
For All Those Babies Born Out of Wedlock
Those who know me understand that I often joke about my greatest sources of pain-- it's a coping mechanism that I've used for quite some time. So while it is cool now to joke about the fact that I was essentially a baby from the Love Boat, let me be very clear about the fact that this was no joking matter back in the '70s. Today, over 40% of children are being born out of wedlock, and so I am deeply concerned about the love stories-- or lack thereof-- that their parents will share with these children. Many of these children will be raised in single parent homes, be at high risk, and will live in poverty. Their chances of surviving and overcoming all these challenges is greatly impacted by their parents' ability to keep it together for them. It will not be easy for these kids, and this is where I believe it is my mission to be their voice and provide a glimmer of hope. Despite great odds, it is possible to break free from the sins of our ancestors and forge our own path. My colleague, Mark Baer, in California sent me an article this weekend that led me to realize my story of having parents that were never in a significant relationship is now something that [...]
Gathering Love Stories
Anyone who knows me is aware of my obsession with love stories-- I love learning how people met, when they first had their "ah-ha" moment, and how they got engaged. I've spent the last 14 years gathering love stories- if they come to me for a prenup consult it is a story with a beautiful ending; if it is for a divorce consult, it is a story with a sad middle part, but the way I see it the end has yet to be determined. Many, in fact most, are able to part ways amicably, and within 2-5 years they rebuild a new life with someone else. So the way I see it, my job is simply to guide people along their love journeys, and I am eternally grateful for the insight everyone has given me into the joys and challenges of a love story. So, what is it with my obsession about love stories? Well, perhaps it stems from the fact that I was not the product of a great love story-- in fact I was never even told the story for almost half my life. For the first 19 years I was told my father was dead, and let's just say no one painted him out to be a war hero. Putting aside all reasons for this deceipt, [...]