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
Finding the Courage to Forgive
In January 2010, when I met Elizabeth Gilbert at her book signing, everyone was thanking her for sharing her story. By the time I got to meet her, I decided enough people had thanked her, so I said something different. I said, "Liz, congratulations on finding the courage to love again." She stopped midway through her signature and looked up at me with an inquisitive glance. I then explained that I am a divorced divorce lawyer, so I understand how hard it is to let go of the past and move forward. She mockingly told me that I did not need to read the book "Committed" because I already knew everything in there, but I shook my head and said, "no, unlike you I have not found the courage to truly love again." Lots of people have been telling me that I have exhibited great courage over the past six years: I decided to run my own law firm while raising an infant; I gracefully managed to get through my own divorce without destroying my family; and just this past week I made the journey to find my father and his whole family. Many have asked me how I did all of this, and the only thing I can really say is that each action was carefully undertaken after a [...]
A Puzzle That Took 38 Years To Complete
In 1971, a woman met a Spaniard while on a cruise. Nine months later, I was born. A nasty court case ensued, and without the admission of any DNA test (that was not required back then), the court found insufficient grounds to make a determination of paternity. My mother was publicly humiliated and felt betrayed by the judicial system. As a result, I was told as a child that my father was dead, and my mother insisted that I become a lawyer and learn my rights. As fate would have it, I got a scholarship to go to a boarding school in Andover, MA when I was 14. I moved to Washington, DC when I was 17 to attend Georgetown University, and by age 25 I completed law school at The George Washington University Law School. By pure coincidence, I began my legal career as a family law attorney, and ever since that is all I have ever done. In law school, and my first six years as a litigator, I was taught to hear my client's story, then to advocate his/her position as zealously as possible. Five years ago, however, following my own divorce, I underwent a complete transformation in my legal training. I pursued courses in mediation and Collaborative Law. Through these studies, I was transformed. I learned [...]
Looking Back In Order to Move Forward
Six years ago, I did the unexpected-- I got divorced. Prior to that, for 32 years, I did everything I was expected to do: finished law school, got married, bought a house, a nice car, a Golden Retriever, and had a child. It seems like the perfect recipe for a happy ending, but I was miserable at home. My husband and I had drifted apart, and our different priorities could not be reconciled. So, we sold the house, I got rid of the Merc, and then the dog died. Now, I only see my son half the time, and I've remained single all these years, which begs the question for many: am I better off? Well, I guess it depends on how you view things. While I sometimes miss the things I had, I do not miss the person I once was-- I am a much better divorce lawyer because of what I have experienced-- I have greater empathy and understanding for my clients, and I have gained better insight about myself by taking time to delve deep into the past instead of simply focusing on planning for the future. The past few years, I rebuilt my life my way creating a law practice that promotes my view of helping families minimize the losses, and at home I finally found [...]
What Are the Top 5 Traits On Your List?
When dating, if you want to adopt a more conscious approach, it is important to know your must-haves. I think most of my peers agree that the top 5 characteristics in a life partner would be as follows: 1. intelligent; 2. kind/thoughtful; 3. decent looking; 4. similar sex drive/interest; 5. fiscally responsible. It seems like that should be so simple, yet it is so hard to find that perfect combination! And sometimes, you can have all of that, and still there is something missing. Why? Well, because you may have different priorities, and your visions for the future simply don't align. This is why you cannot take it personally when things don't work out, but no matter what keep your list of must-haves clear.