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Our Firm

Rita M. Aquilio

Practicing exclusively family law for over 20 years, Rita has helped hundreds of families with divorce, separation, child support, custody, guardianship, post-judgment, and related matters. Each one of her clients can expect their matter to be handled in an efficient, compassionate and empathetic manner. Rita works collaboratively with clients to identify their personal goals while paying attention to their financial, emotional and practical needs. With Lawrence Law’s deep bench and team approach, Rita has the resources to handle complex and high net-worth family law cases. In family law, unlike general litigation, cases rarely have a winner and a loser. Rita defines success for her clients as moving through the family law process to a better place in life.

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Rita handles divorce litigation matters throughout the State of New Jersey. She regularly appears in courts in Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, Morris, Essex, Union, Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean, and Sussex counties.

Rita is a trained Collaborative Divorce Attorney and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She has both trial experience and alternative dispute resolution training in matrimonial actions.

Recognized by the New Jersey Superior Court as a Qualified Family Law Mediator, Rita is a Panelist for the Superior Court, Early Settlement Panel in Somerset County and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Somerset County Family Practice Committee. Rita has been trained by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as a Divorce Arbitrator. Rita has also completed training through the State of New Jersey to mediate economic aspects of matrimonial and post-judgment matters in cases where there is a Final Restraining Order, as part of the Court-appointed mediation process.

Rita is the Current Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the current Bar year and has served in that capacity since 2015. She previously served as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Litigation Committee. She was previously recognized as Outstanding Subcommittee Chair for her 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 terms. Rita has also served as Editor of the American Bar Association Family Law Litigation Subcommittee’s E-Newsletter. She is a member of the ABA’s Diverse Speakers Directory on matrimonial and family law matters.

Rita is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association and serves as the Liaison to the American Bar Association for the Executive Committee. Rita was elected to serve on the New Jersey State Bar Association’s General Council. She is a member of the Appellate Practice Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Legislation and Domestic Violence Subcommittee, and Advisory Committee on Developments in Family Law in other Jurisdictions Committees. She is also Treasurer of the Somerset County Bar Association and an author of articles and blogs published by the American Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association’s NJ Family Lawyer.

She was named to the Board of Editors for the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation Appellate Practice Journal, commencing with the Spring 2018 edition. Rita is also a Member of the Editorial Board of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, which is the legal publication of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Rita is a frequent lecturer on legal topics, including the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education, at its Hot Tips and Family Law seminars, as well as the American Bar Association. She is also the Vice-Chair of the District XIII Ethics Committee for 2021 – 2023.

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