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
Are You Ready For Parenthood?
They say no one is ever really ready to become a parent, yet 80% of women will become mothers by the time they reach the age of 44, and as people are becoming more open and honest about the challenges of parenthood, I do think we can (and should) help future parents prepare for the road that lies ahead. First, the stats speak volumes: 60% of couples with newborns will experience a dramatic drop in satisfaction with their partners. This is not surprising when you take into account the raging hormones involved for a woman, coupled with sleep deprivation for both, a complete upheaval to your family's schedule and finances, as well as major changes to each person's identity, the mom's body, and the desire to be intimate. Simply stated, that first year can be overwhelming, and if you allow yourselves to become two ships passing in the night, don't be surprised when someone ultimately decides to ship out. Second, again relying on stats we see that 60% of children in the U.S. are now being born out of wedlock. What does that mean? Well, it doesn't necessarily mean that the parents are not together, but they are certainly not bound by marital vows that provide married parents with certain legal protections and a little extra incentive to prevent things [...]
Can You Climb Out of the Divorce Abyss?
On average, 1 Million Americans each year manage to survive the divorce process, and yet these numbers are somehow not particularly reassuring to those going through the process, who feel like they are free falling into the bottomless pit of hell. Am I being overly melodramatic? Not even close-- for those of us that have survived the free fall where you see the security of a life partner, your finances, your identity, your social life, and even your health all slip away. When you are going through a divorce, you will undoubtedly feel out of control at times, perhaps even helpless at moments, and with each new insult that hits you it will become abundantly clear why so many experience a period of anxiety or depression while going through this miserable situation. In your darkest moments in fact, you may even ask yourself whether it would be better to drink poison or administer it. And hopefully that is when you wake up, and realize it is time to take back control of your life and climb out of the abyss. Here are some tips on how you do that: 1. Get Control of Your Finances- make sure you have a sufficient income to meet your own expenses without relying on someone else. Balance your own budget so you don't have [...]
Are You Stuck in a Black Hole?
During a divorce, people tend to go to a very dark place. Many feel like they are trapped in a horrible nightmare with no end in sight, especially when the person on the other side is constantly launching threats, using the kids as pawns and/or has an attorney that enjoys acting like a bully. But this is really all par for the course, and it is my job to reassure people that there is a light at the end of the tunnel-- within 12 to 18 months this is usually over for most, and the key to exiting gracefully is to never let yourself think you are stuck in a black hole. If you are feeling trapped in a bad situation, try these 3 simple steps: 1. Find a guide- seek out someone that can give you guidance on how to make a change. For example, if you don't like your job, get insight from others as to what else is out there and what you need to do to make a move. If your finances are out of control, go talk to a money manager and get advice on how to curb spending, establish a budget and maximize your savings. If you are having problems with your personal relationships, go talk to a counselor that can help you gain [...]
Can You Keep Your Agreements?
As adults, whether we realize it or not, our lives are governed by the agreements we make-- and while not all of them are necessarily legally binding, that doesn't make them any less important. Unfortunately, some people have a tendency to over-extend themselves; very few I believe are outright trying to be deceitful. I think what happens, especially with people-pleasers is that they want so much to make their loved ones happy that they just make promises that later on they come to realize they just cannot keep. In the legal world, if you don't pay per your contracts, the remedy is pretty simple: we seize your assets. So for example the mortgage company will take your house, the car company will repose the car, credit card companies close your account and go after your bank accounts, etc. And if you don't pay your child support, Child Support Enforcement has the ability to garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and revoke your driving privileges, among other things. As you can see, we don't kid around when it comes to fulfilling legal obligations. But what about breaches that happen outside the courtroom? More and more I find that people seem to have lost the concept of a social contract- the one we make with each other as part of a society. Despite [...]