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 Delivering the Right Message?
Have you found that your message just isn't getting through to someone you love? Well, that happens a lot but luckily there are only 2 possible issues, either (1) they are choosing not to listen or (2) the way you are conveying your thoughts needs improvement. I can't do anything about the first problem, but with the latter you have to keep this in mind: your message might be great, but if your delivery sucks it won't be effective. Most people have a hard time receiving any form of criticism, especially off the clock. A lot of people either get defensive or shut down when faced with anything resembling a critique of their behaviors, choices or character so the key to getting through is to (1) choose your words carefully, (2) focus on how things make you feel or affect you, and (3) above all avoid name-calling or passing judgment. When things break down it's usually because at least one person feels they are "right" and the other is "wrong." If someone believes their choices are appropriate and the other's are not, they are never going to be able to communicate effectively. What's worse is that when you start to take on the role of a nagging parent, the other is going to lose interest fast in the bedroom. It's [...]
What Is The Real Issue?
After 20 years in the legal industry, I have been privy to some of the nastiest fights imaginable, but in family disputes it really boils down to three main issues: (1) division of labor, (2) money and (3) time. These are limited resources for all of us, and when arguments erupt at home, I find it helpful to take a step back and ask yourself this before launching into World War III: what is the real issue? The issue people often think they are fighting about isn't the actual issue at all. Let me give you some examples: 1 Chores- Do you find yourself arguing about chores? That's normal, but too often couples focus on who did or didn't do what and really this rarely gets anyone to a better place. The real issue is that someone feels unappreciated, overburdened, and/or that the division of labor is unfair. Now since you can't undo the past, you need to let that go. Instead, why not center the discussion on what could be done differently going forward? Everyone should be able to agree on what needs to get done, and that no one should be burdened with 100% of all the chores. After establishing some common ground, a couple should be able to divide up all the household tasks or decide to [...]
Are You Caught in a Downward Spiral?
We've all been in situations where you can see that things are starting to go south, and yet you are not really sure what to do to stop the downward spiral. Well, really it is very simple, because you only have 3 choices: 1. Do Nothing. Not a great option if you want things to improve. If you want the relationship to last, you can't just stand there hoping beyond hope that a miracle or act of God will just make things better. That rarely happens, and instead the outcome that is pretty much guaranteed is that things will just get worse. 2. Get Out. This is relatively easy to do in business relationships and with acquaintances, but not so easy when you are talking about a close family member or a life partner. If you don't live with that individual you can unilaterally decide to build up your boundaries and change the closeness of the relationship without completely severing ties, but this is much harder to do when you are in the same house and have joint obligations. Establishing a separate residence and/or divorcing has severe financial and emotional consequences that need to be carefully considered before pursuing this option. 3. Repair Work. I know it is not easy, and it does require effort on both sides to want [...]
Top 5 Lessons Sports Teach Kids
It's been over 20 years since I gave up the crazy life that involved training every day and competing in tournaments across the country, but there are many lessons that have stayed with me all these years and helped me in my adult life. Here are my top 5: 1. Respect Your Body- As an athlete you are trained to exercise regularly, eat well and sleep at least 7 hours a day. If you want your body to last, you have to maintain in properly. It is no accident that my size has not varied greatly all these years, and it has everything to do with discipline. You have to take care of yourself, even long after you retire from sports. 2. Embrace Delayed Gratification- No one is an overnight success in the world of sports. It takes a lot of discipline and training to become an elite competitor. Especially in an age where everyone expects instant gratification, I believe it is key to develop this life-skill because the fact is any major accomplishment has to be earned over time. 3. Criticism Isn't A Bad Thing- Any decent coach is always going to point out areas where you can improve. Over the years, I learned to appreciate that only those that really care about my success are willing to provide feedback, [...]