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
3 Things You Must Do To Achieve Work-life Balance
If you are among the millions claiming to want work-life balance, here are three essential steps you have to take to really make progress towards that goal: 1. Find a Guide- Rather than just complain to friends or co-workers about the lack of balance in your life, go find someone who has achieved it and pick his/her brain for advice. My very first boss out of law school, who has been my mentor throughout my career, is a shining example of someone who always made time for his family and kept his priorities straight. His partners shared the same philosophy, and along the way I came to know a few others that shared this view (mainly those that left big firms and opened their own shops), and it is through these contacts that I found it possible to create a life that works for me. 2. Learn to Say No- If you want to enjoy life, you need to stop being a people pleaser. There are way too many takers in this world wanting to claim your time and/or energy, so you have to learn to set your own boundaries and be able to say "no I can't stay late for this client," or "no I can't take on another volunteer/committee project." Even your family needs to hear you say [...]
When Is It Okay to Lie On Your Dating Profile?
Over the past decade in the single world, as online dating really took off, there were many debates among my peers as to when it is acceptable to fudge the truth a bit on your dating profile. Here are the 4 big things everyone agreed you should not lie about: 1. Height, weight or age-- seriously, it is so easy to get busted on those lies in the first date, and we can all agree that it is not nice to waste someone's time. What may seem superficial to one, may not be to another, who maybe only want to date a person that is over 6 feet, or a certain physique or age. We all have our reasons for liking certain attributes. 2. Geographic location. Sadly, a lot of us do think about commute time and how hard it will be to date someone outside a 20 mile radius. 3. Family situation. Accept where you are in life, and that some people may not want to get involved with a pending divorce or complicated custody schedule. No one should misrepresent his/her marital status or obligations towards their children. 4. Future vision- If you want to marry and/or have kids (which is normal for about 80% of the population) just be aware of the fact that not everyone shares [...]
Are You Changing Your Name?
I ask this question every day-- of women getting divorced, not those about to get married. Why? Well, because for brides I think this is a very personal choice, and not one that I really can weigh in on. Meanwhile for those getting divorced, although it is a very simple procedure legally to be restored to your maiden name as part of a divorce proceeding, this decision involves complicated logistics and emotions for my female clients, especially when they share the same last name as their children. Whether you are a bride to be, or a soon to be divorcee, the procedure for changing your name is generally the same-- and I suggest your share this with any bride and/or groom you may know so that s/he can fully appreciate what is involved here: 1 You will need to obtain from the court a certified copy of either the marriage certificate or divorce decree. Get multiple copies just to be safe-- this will probably cost about $6 each. 2. Submit the court document to Social Security to obtain a new card. 3. Go to DMV with that court document and your Social Security card to get a new license. 4. Contact all your banking institutions (including credit cards) and submit your new identification cards so they can update your records. 5. [...]
How Big Is Your Ask?
We all need something from others-- truly, not a single person I have encountered over the last four decades operates as an island. But the key question to keep in mind when asking for something is this: how big is your ask? The bigger the favor, the more prepared you need to be to get a "no." As a divorce lawyer, here are 3 big asks I often have to deal with: 1. Alimony- asking someone to help their ex meet his/her expenses is a big ask, especially if you are seeking indefinite (aka "lifetime") alimony. 2. Custody- when someone says they want "sole" or "primary" custody, that person has to be prepared to answer the inevitable question of why is that appropriate? 3. Property- often one spouse just wants to keep the house or his/her retirement. I get that there are emotional reasons for these positions, but we need to present logical reasons in court to justify each and every request. Outside of divorce court, the reason settlement talks break down is really because the asks are too high. When it's too difficult to bridge the gap, negotiations break down, leaving everyone in limbo until a higher power can intervene. Even in non-legal disputes, it seems aside from power/control issues, every day people keep arguing about these same two [...]