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
If We Split, Will The Kids Be Okay?
The number one question all parents struggle with during a divorce is this: how will our split impact the kids? The short answer is that it all depends on how well the parents handle the whole situation. If you have two child-focused parents that are willing to put aside their anger and disappointment towards each other to work on a parenting plan that minimizes the losses to the kids, then most kids will be just fine. Does this sound too good to be true? Far from it, in fact research shows that less than a third of divorces fall into the category of an "angry divorce." According to most studies, and what I have observed as a divorce attorney the past 18 years, most divorcing parents either have a distant or cooperative relationship as co-parents. Obviously, the more you can cooperate the better, but a distant relationship isn't necessarily bad-- as long as they can agree on major issues such as health care, education, religion and a time-sharing schedule, there may not be a need for much interaction. The one thing you definitely don't want is a situation that exposes the kids to a lot of conflict. When I divorced a decade ago, after my husband and I grew apart, there wasn't a lot of anger, but rather as I [...]
When Calling It Quits, How Will You Play Your Hand?
With the holidays behind us, many couples will come to the conclusion this month that it's time to call it quits. It's never an easy call to make, but you know it's the right thing to do when the tension at home is simply unbearable, and the weight of all the anger or sadness you are carrying inside feels like barbells tied to your feet that are making you sink deeper and deeper into a sea of despair while all hope of things improving this year gets sucked away along with the oxygen you so desperately need to survive. When staying together is no longer an option, my first tip would be to go seek professional advice from a counselor because the hardest job you will face this year is dealing with all the emotions and transitions that are normally part of any divorce. It is normal to grieve the loss of your dream of a happily ever after with your spouse, and no one will blame you for feeling angry that you may now have to radically change your life, including where you live and how often you see your kids. Divorce sucks, and unlike those that experience the loss of a spouse through a death, there is no generous life insurance check coming your way to ease your [...]
What’s Your NYE Resolution?
Finally, 2016 is almost over. It's certainly been a difficult year for many, and the biggest take-away for me is a very simple one: there is so much that is just outside of our direct control. As frustrating as that fact may be, the sooner you can accept it, the sooner you can focus on that which is within your control. With that in mind, here are 4 key areas in our lives that we can strive to improve upon in the new year: 1. Physical Health- How comfortable are you with your own body? If you want to lose weight or tone your muscles, change your workout or maybe even get some medical intervention to fix things you don't like about yourself, go do it! Focus on yourself for a bit, and don't feel guilty about it. The great thing about setting physical goals is that within a short period of time you can really start to see results, and this will boost your spirits greatly. The undisputed fact is the more positive your energy is, the faster you will recover from whatever heart break or disappointment comes your way. 2. Intellectual Stimulation- Are you bored at work or at home? Having a great mind is a gift you should not squander. We all suffer lulls either at home [...]
Will Your Christmas Be Merry And Bright?
There is a Buddhist saying, "no expectations, no disappointments." If you embrace this motto for the holidays, and just focus your energy on relaxing and enjoying time with family and friends, then you actually stand a great chance of having a merry and bright Christmas. I'll admit that it took me a long time to appreciate the wisdom in having zero expectations, but something I did take to heart a long time ago was my godfather's advice when he said, "we are 80% responsible for our own happiness, and only 20% is dependent on external factors." While we can certainly argue about the actual percentages, the real point is beautifully simple: don't let outside factors (including people) play such a huge role in your ability to have a good time. Although we cannot control what others say or do, how we respond is totally within our control. Over the next few days, find your happy place by thinking about all the good things that happened this year, and if you are struggling with that, well then hit up other people around you for some good stories that will lift your spirits. Whenever you need a break for all the togetherness, just politely excuse yourself from all the commotion and be ready to entertain yourself either by baking cookies, going for [...]