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
5 Signs Your Relationship Is Dysfunctional
Are you wondering if your situation normal? Lots of people ask me this question, and honestly I no longer know what is "normal" but to me the more appropriate question is this: does your relationship work for you? If you are having your doubts, then obviously something is wrong. Here are 5 common areas of concern: 1. Lack of Trust- This should be self-explanatory. You simply cannot have a healthy relationship without trust and respect. 2. Lack of Commitment- Are you both committed to staying together and working through life's challenges? We all suffer setbacks, illnesses, financial loss, and family drama. The key question is will your partner be with you through the good times and the bad? 3. Conflict Avoidance- Let's be honest, very few enjoy conflict, but it is a part of life. We all have different points of view and will not always see eye to eye with our partners, and yet you have to be able to talk candidly about your concerns and work through issues together. Avoiding conflict and faking happiness will not work out in the long run, it never does. 4. No Accountability- Do you check in with one another on major decisions, or do you each just do your own thing? If you are truly part of team, then you cannot continue to [...]
Is Your Wedding Budget Realistic?
If you have been through this drill once before, then these numbers won't surprise you, but if you are getting married for the first time, prepare yourself for a little sticker shock. The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is about $25,000. You may wonder, how can this be? Well, let's think about what costs are involved here: 1. Church/Synagogue- The fees for using a church or synagogue vary, depending also on whether you are a member or not, but for budgeting purposes let's just assume $850 including the officiant's fee. 2. Flowers- Depending on what you want this can get very expensive, but again for sake of simplicity let's use $600 as a place-holder. 3. Dress- Stupidly, I spent $1,000 on my first dress, which was a beautiful silk gown that was never worn again. I'm not doing that this time around, but even so good luck finding a nice man's suit for the groom and a nice dress and shoes for the bride for under $1000, so let's go with that. 4. Grooming- Every bride I know wants her hair done a special way for the big day, plus makeup and of course you need a mani/pedi the day before, with tips this will run at least $150. 5. Rings- In addition to an engagement ring, [...]
Do You Feel Like It Is Groundhog Day?
Remember that 1993 movie with Bill Murray, where he keeps waking up and the day keeps repeating itself? If you are stuck in a vicious cycle, it is normal to feel like you are starring in Groundhog Day. While the topic you may be arguing about is different, the same fight is going replay itself because the core issue remains unresolved. Here is an example: Day 1- you fight about the dishes in the sink. Day 2- you argue about the clothes not in the hamper. Day 3- you have a fit about the trash not being taken out. Day 4- you get upset because there is not a single sweet text message sent. Day 5- you get fired up when you find someone forgot to pay a bill, or pick up the dry-cleaning, etc. By Day 6 you are in big trouble for one very simple reason-- for a relationship to be happy and healthy you need 5 positive interactions to one negative, yet in this scenario you have had 5 straight days of blow ups. You don't have to be math genius to figure out the odds are now stacked against you, unless you can find a way to reboot. To break away from a series of bad-spells, you may actually need to get away, maybe spend a [...]
Are You Looking for A Roadmap?
Once upon a time, most of us knew exactly what was expected of us and we yearned to meet those expectations: get an education, find a good job, have some fun until you find a nice partner, and eventually start a family. About 80% of women will accomplish this by the time we are 40, but then a funny thing happens, as we realize we are at the half-way point in our life expectancy-- we find ourselves asking some difficult questions: can I keep working the same job and/or living with the same partner for another 20 years? Are there things I have left undone and still want to accomplish before it is too late? And beneath it all is the ultimate question: what do I need to be truly happy? Those that find themselves contemplating the road that lies ahead are not having a mid-life crisis, but rather are reassessing where they are versus where they want to be. At this critical juncture, many often first default to looking for a new roadmap. Indeed it is wise to read and learn about the journeys of others, mainly to gain courage and inspiration. Ultimately, however, you need to do some soul-searching on your own-- dig into your past and make peace with it. You need to understand and appreciate the [...]