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
Where Do You Rank?
Like it or not, we all get ranked throughout life. Starting early on as athletes and scholars, long before we ever start our professional careers, the powers that be start tracking those of us considered to be the elite competitors, and while there are certainly some sweet rewards for being a top performer, what they don't tell you and you just learn over time is that it is all actually quite meaningless-- unless you have someone special to share in your struggles and rejoice in your triumphs. To truly feel like a rock star, the truth is that you actually have to find love first. Ironically, the more focused you are in seeking perfection and pursuing of all those trophies, ribbons, awards and prizes out there, the harder it is to find someone that can understand you and relate, and in the meantime what you will encounter is a lot of envy and jealousy, along with a ton of users and fair-weather friends. The sad reality is that the higher you climb up the ladder, the harder it will actually be to find someone that actually respects you and loves you regardless of whether you are on fire or in a slump, but believe me it is totally worth holding out for this. How do you know when somebody truly loves [...]
Is 50/50 Really Fair?
At the risk of opening up Pandora's Box here, let me confess upfront that in my experience, it is incredibly rare to see truly equal partnerships. Most couples do not earn exactly the same, the division of labor at home is rarely equal, and the family resources we have available to us in the future can differ vastly, which may not play a significant factor when everyone continues to co-exist under one roof, but can greatly impact the landscape of what your life will be like post-divorce. In DC and MD, where I have been practicing family law the last 15 years, we do not have community property, but rather our laws state that in the event of a divorce the court has the authority to distribute the marital assets equitably. What is an equitable distribution? It means the court can assign to each party the assets in whatever manner it deems fair and reasonable after taking into account many factors, including the contributions made by each party during the marriage. Looking closely at how modern families function, it has become incredibly clear to me that those expecting a 50/50 division of household responsibilities are setting themselves up for a major fail. Instead, you need to be able to realistically discuss a division of chores that is equitable-- taking into [...]
5 Reasons Why Transitions Are So Scary
Yesterday, I attended an interesting seminar, where a Certified Professional Coach that focuses on working with women in transition, was one of the presenters. She did a great job of explaining why transitions can create so much anxiety for people. Simply put, her point is that there are 5 basic needs that we have to meet to feel happy and safe, and unfortunately when we are going through life transitions, i.e. a new job, new place to live, new marriage, new baby, becoming an empty nester, retirement, death or divorce, it only takes one of these 5 needs to be thrown off whack to make us feel off kilter: 1. Financial Security- if you are not sure how you will meet your basic financial obligations, this is a huge problem. I see it every day in my divorce cases, and that is why I spend so much time teaching and advocating about financial literacy. Women today cannot rely on their husband's for financial support. You have to be able to pull your own weight in the event something horrible happens. 2. Identity- you have to be secure in who you are as a person. Your identity should not be tied to any one particular role in life, i.e. being a good mom, wife, or employee. You may switch careers, your kids [...]
Can You Stop Yourself From Going Psycho?
Way too many people let their emotions run wild, especially when they get upset. Now, we all say things and do things in the heat of the moment that we may later regret, but some people really go off the deep end. I'm certainly not qualified to address the issues of those with major psychological disorders, but for the rest of us sane individuals that sometimes lose our temper, there is tremendous hope for learning to discipline your emotions. It takes practice for sure, but it can be done. When you feel yourself getting upset, your heart probably starts to race, your mind starts to race and/or you should notice that your muscles are tightening up. Literally, it is as if you are preparing for battle. Well as soon as you feel these things occurring, picture a pause button, hit it and take a step back. Before launching into a tirade, ask yourself this: what is the outcome I really want from the exchange that is about to occur? In law school, I was trained to strip all arguments of emotions-- we stick to facts, and we gather as much evidence as possible to support our statements. Outside of court, I use the same tactics when I get upset with someone--- I stick to the facts and try to calmly [...]