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
During Trying Times, Try Words of Affirmation
Many of us thrive on gaining external positive affirmation for our endeavors. We all need positive reinforcement for our efforts at home, work and in our personal relationships, but the key is to not rely too much on others to validate your existence. Sometimes, people are so wrapped up in their own lives and challenges that they won't take the time to recognize the time and energy you have placed in something you thought was quite noteworthy. Maybe there is also some underlying issue of jealousy or envy. It is so hard not to take this personally, but the best advice I ever got was that you should just do something for your own sense of fulfillment without ever expecting anyone else to appreciate what you have done-- if they do, it will be a bonus, but expecting praise from others is a recipe for disaster.Most of my life, I have felt like the little boy in the Kite Runner, chasing that kite and waiting for that glorious day of ultimate praise. If you have read the story, you know how it ends. I cried when I read that book a few years ago, and it really made me reassess things. This past year, I severed all contact with one parent and went in search of the other; I also [...]
Let’s Apply the Golden Rule to Dating
The past several years, I have encountered all types in the dating world. Here are the top 10 characters that I prefer to avoid: 1. Control Freaks 2. Narcissists 3. Problem Accumulators 4. Commitment Phobes 5. Players 6. Drama Queens 7. Socially Awkward 8. Emotionally Unavailable 9. Incredibly Insecure 10. Psychos Not all these traits can be screened out right away, so as the saying goes, you may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince or princess... Luckily, I have met several perfectly decent guys, and sometimes there just isn't enough chemistry or we ruled each other out as geographically inconvenient (which is why you can't take things personally.) As long as we all had fun while it lasted, were honest with one another and treated each other with respect, I've found it is possible to maintain friendships with past lovers, and yes sometimes these lines may blur, but always there is profound respect because we followed the Golden Rule. Now we may all disagree about if/when you owe anyone an explanation, and what that needs to look like. I'm a big fan of an in person discussion with someone that I've been seeing for at least 5 months. That's just my thing, but if you can't do it in person, then pick up the [...]
The Paradigm Shift from Litigator to Collaborator
This fall, as I gear up for my new round of lectures, I am really excited to share my views on what we call the "paradigm shift" from litigator to collaborator. As a litigator, I was intially trained to hear my client's story and figure out his/her desired outcome. It was then my job to zealously represent that person and get the best possible result for that one person. But over time, I realized that most people going through a divorce are in an incredibly emotional state; they are going through a tragic phase in their lives, and they cannot always see things clearly or use their best judgment. They can barely comprehend what is going on from their own perspective, let alone try to explain what might be going on from the other person's point of view. The games of strategy in litigation are endless, and the costs of litigation often fueled by a clients' distorted view of reality and unrealistic expectations driven by their anger can be astronomical. I have seen several cases where the parties each spend $300,000 or more in litigation fees. The only ones who truly win at the end of the day in those cases are the attorneys, not the families.I went to law school to help people, and in a divorce, I believe [...]
With Divorce Lawyers, One Size Does Not Fit All
People going through a divorce have different goals and interests. There are some that are incredibly angry, and they want a "legal shark" to make the other person suffer. Then there are those who are simply sad (but not mad) that the marriage did not work out, and they would like to exit as quickly and gracefully as possible. The statistics actually show that 66% fall into the latter category, and those are truly the people I enjoy working with the most, not the former. After over a decade of experience with family law cases in the nation's capitol, most people are fully aware of the reputation I have established. I volunteer a lot of my time to promoting settlements outside of court, including the use of Collaborative Divorce and mediation as alternatives to resolve family disputes. I have chosen to spend my time dedicating my efforts to helping families preserve as much goodwill as possible, and to focus on the children. I feel I am helping create a better society, and in making that choice I accept that I will never generate the kinds of fees that my colleagues focused on litigation can make for their firms. The fact is, most Americans, cannot afford a full blown litigated case, and it is my goal to help as many people [...]