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
Is It Really Cheaper To Keep Her (Or Him)?
Over the past two decades, there is one common regret that resonates with most of my divorce clients: they should not have delayed in calling it quits. Many wait too long and put up with way too much mostly out of fear-- either (1) fear of being alone, (2) fear of losing time with their children, (3) fear of social backlash, or (4) fear of the financial hit and change in lifestyle the divorce will inevitably cause. All of these consequences are both scary and real, there is no way I can sugar coat that for anyone, however, if the conclusion is "it's cheaper to keep her (or him)" you are not seeing the full picture. To appreciate the full view, you need to see it from my perspective, as someone that has lived through the experience and helped thousands as a divorce attorney face these fears head on in order to find a better life on the other side. The reality is the longer you stay in an unhappy situation, the greater the risk to your mental and physical health, and perhaps your children's wellbeing if they are being exposed to a toxic situation at home. You also run the risk of being more on the hook for spousal support based on the standard of living and length [...]
Tips For Helping Children During High Conflict Court Battles
High conflict divorce or custody battles in court are the worst, particularly for the children involved. Despite the fact that all the research shows the children are best served when their parents spare them of their conflict, inevitably about 20% of family law cases end up being flagged as high conflict, with the parents offering very different versions of what they believe is best for their children. When this happens, unfortunately the court often needs to get experts involved to get past the he said/she said problem and break the impasse. One option is to ask the court to order a neutral mental health professional to conduct a custody evaluation. After meeting with the children, their parents, and other key figures in the children’s lives, the custody evaluator will make a recommendation as to the best custodial arrangement for the kids. While these recommendations are not automatically binding, they carry substantial weight with the court, so the parent challenging the report then has an uphill battle presenting his/her case. Another option, is to request the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) or Best Interest Attorney (BIA) to represent the child. This child advocate is allowed to meet with the child regularly, participate in discovery and all hearings, call witnesses, file pleadings as needed, and can recommend whether the [...]
Try Suspending Judgments, Particularly During COVID-19
After 11 long weeks, in my little microcosm outside of Washington, DC things are finally beginning to reopen-- in baby steps. This week, court staff was allowed back into the courthouse, which had been closed since March 15, except for emergency hearings. New procedures have recently been implemented to facilitate e-filing and participation of uncontested hearings by phone, which is something that will likely continue for some time (especially while the public and attorneys continue to have limited access through July 20th). Meanwhile, some of my colleagues and clients have now resumed in-person meetings and mediations, which I personally prefer, even though it is apparent that many will continue to opt for online legal services long after this pandemic subsides. For an uber-extrovert like me, this social distancing has been tough, especially without family (except for my son) nearby. Several celebrations (including my brother's wedding set for May) were canceled, and future plans of reuniting with family and friends remain uncertain at this time. Nonetheless, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to support many of my friends and colleagues the past 2 months through social media, including the production of 17 YouTube videos and various blogs featuring experts with timely tips for families on a variety of topics during COVID-19. As we now cautiously resume some [...]
Tips For Families With Special Needs Children
These days, all families with children are facing a ton of challenges-- looking for online summer camps or alternative daycare options, as well as safe activities to keep them engaged, all while wondering what the fall will look like for everyone. Now imagine how much more difficult this entire situation must be for families with special needs children, who need considerably more attention and access to special services.Unfortunately, families with special needs children have a significantly higher rate of divorce due to the additional pressures and stress they must handle. And while many might naively believe that the public services we have available will just swoop in to help, the fact is it's mainly incumbent on the parents to advocate for their children to get them the services they deserve. For those that find the system frustrating or the process overwhelming, the best option often is to hire a special needs advocate to ensure that the right goals are established and proper accommodations are made to help the child thrive, particularly in school with the development of either an individual education plan (IEP) or 504 plan for those students with learning differences or medical disabilities. Many parents do not realize that IEPs do not automatically transfer over to colleges, and for those whose children are not on a college [...]