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
What Budget Changes Can You Make Immediately During This Covid-19 Crisis?
It's hard to think long-term, especially when you are in crisis mode. So many are taking it day by day, which is completely understandable. However, in order to minimize the financial hit your family will take in the long-run, do not put off reviewing where you can cut expenses asap. At home, it is important to identify true necessities versus luxuries. Take it by category, and drill deep. For example, with housing costs, where can you cut costs? We all need a roof over our heads, but if you are on a month-to-month lease maybe now would be a good time to ask for a reduction in rent or look at other alternatives? Food is definitely necessary to our survival, but where and what we buy is up to us. Transportation is another necessity, but maybe if your vehicle is leased and your contract is about to expire, now might be a good time to consider something cheaper or look into a purchase that will last longer? Medical care, obviously is critical now more than ever, but perhaps out-of-network options need to be re-evaluated, and certain non-essential services can be extended a little. If you think you are about to get laid off and lose some benefits, or maybe you have put off getting medical insurance, this should be [...]
Where Can You Find Solace During This COVID-19 Crisis?
Just a month ago, I attended a classical music concert at the Strathmore where Joshua Bell one of the world's top violists performed. Today, with almost 20,000 reported cases of COVID-19 in this country, that concert hall is closed along with all public venues not just in our area, but across the world. Life as we've all known it has completely changed in the past few weeks. And with all this growing uncertainty, it's important to pinpoint where we can find comfort during these difficult times. For those, like my son or my law students, who perhaps have never witnessed major adversity on a level like this, I find this is a great teaching moment to impart some lessons from our past: First, as I take my daily walks I often think about my grandparents. My father's parents managed to survive the Spanish flu, two world wars, and Franco's rule in Spain, which lasted until he died in 1975. My maternal grandmother, who was born in Ecuador in 1915, also survived these things along with immense poverty, until my mother was able to bring her to the U.S. where she lived to be 97 years old. Second, prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, world travel was not unlimited. As a [...]
Can You Keep It Together During Crazy Times?
These are difficult times for everyone, everywhere. The rules keep changing every day, and most of our daily routines that keep us grounded have been tossed out the window. I have only been back in the U.S. 10 days, after a much needed break from the daily drama I deal with as the owner of a family law firm, part-time professor and full time parent to a teenager that thinks he's already 21. When I left for vacation on Feb. 26th, I was only aware of 2 cases of the coronavirus in the West Coast. Upon my re-entry, there were over 1,000 cases. March 9th, my first day back at work was pretty normal, with court operating as usual and a successful mediation that afternoon. The next day, I went to GWU Law to connect with my clinic students, who had just returned from their Spring Break, and we shared stories about our trips without any possible indication that those might be our last for some time. On March 11th, I drove my partner to the airport, fully intending to join him in Florida a few days later. Then, Thursday morning everything changed. Instead of getting on a plane to visit family in Florida this past weekend, I stayed home and went shopping for food and supplies. My son's [...]
What Will You Do for Yourself This Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and whether you will share it with someone or not has nothing to do with whether you commemorate the day. In my earlier days, I used to rely on people to make that day special for me, but as I got older (especially after my divorce) I realized the only one that truly has the ability to make any day special is me. You know yourself better than anyone else, especially what you like and what makes you feel good. So why not take it upon yourself to schedule a little treat that you know will bring you joy? If you do have someone special in your life, make sure to acknowledge the day even if it is just with a small gift. Truly, the worst thing you can do is ignore the day– even if that person may have told you s/he isn’t into Valentine’s Day. You certainly don’t need to go crazy, but you also don’t want to send the message that you don’t care at all. Not sure what to do? Play it safe with a card and something sweet– remember, there’s never a down side to showing someone that you don’t take the relationship for granted. If you are currently in between relationships, know that you are far from [...]