Rita M. Aquilio - Watchung, NJ
Attorney at Lawrence Law
Divorce and Family Law Lawyers in Watchung, NJ
744 Mountain Boulevard Watchung, NJ 07069
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
27
Years
Experience
Watchung Divorce and Family Law Lawyer
Updated: 04/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Divorce and Family Law
Litigation: 90%
Attorney Information
Overview
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.
Rita’s 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 is the Current Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s Family Law Litigation Committee for the current Bar year and has served in that capacity since 2015. 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. She is a member of the Appellate Practice Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is also a Trustee for the Somerset County Bar Association, with a three-year term commencing in September 2018. She is 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 a member of the District XIII Ethics Committee.
Awards and Honors
Other Sources of Feedback About Rita M. Aquilio
Included on the 2026 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
- 2024 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
Education
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Legal Education
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Western New England University School of Law,
Springfield,
Massachusetts, 1997
J.D.
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Western New England University School of Law,
Springfield,
Massachusetts, 1997
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Non Legal Education
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Drew University , 1993
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
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Drew University , 1993
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Past Positions
- Norris McLaughlin, Partner
Classes and Seminars
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“Judge, What do You Want to Hear?” A Primer on How to Present Direct and Cross-Examination of a Financial Expert in a Bench Trial, American Bar Association Section Annual Conference, Marriott Marquis, NY, May 3, 2019
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“Discover Yourself – Navigating the First Years of Litigation Practice,” ABA Regional Panel, Seton Hall Law School, March 29, 2019
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“Hot Tips in Family Law,” NJSBA Family Law Section in association with the NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, November 12, 2018
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“Post-Obergefell – Part 2: A Look at Case Law and Recent Developments in 2018,” ABA Section of Litigation Family Law Litigation Committee Roundtable, Call-in, May 30, 2018
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“Shades of Grey: Seniors and Divorce,” NJICLE in cooperation with NJSBA Family Law Section, Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, January 26, 2018
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“Demystifying the Trial: Preparing for and proceeding to trial in matrimonial and domestic violence matters,” Hot Tips in Family Law, NJSBA Family Law Section in association with the NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, November 10, 2017
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“The Next Round of Litigation after Obergefell: Four Key Cases for 2017,” ABA Section of Litigation Family Law Litigation Committee Call-in Seminar Co-sponsored by the LGBT Litigator and Civil Rights Committees, July 26, 2017
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Second Saturday, The Women’s Institute for Financial Education, Florham Park, NJ, July 20, 2017
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“Using Evidence of Civil Restraints to Support the Claim of Harassment”, “Hot Tips in Family Law The Top 40: New Spins on the Oldies but Goodies,” NJICLE & NJSBA, New Brunswick, NJ, November 11, 2016
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“How to Avoid (or at least manage) Secondary Trauma in Family Law Cases,” “Hot Tips in Family Law,” NJICLE & NJSBA, New Brunswick, NJ, November 11, 2015
- New Jersey State Bar Association’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education
Published Works
Articles
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Editor, American Bar Association Family Law Litigation Subcommittee’s E-Newsletter
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Member, Editorial Board, New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, New Jersey State Bar Association
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“Where is My Witness? Out of State? Use of De Bene Esse Depositions in Family Law Matters,” Volume 39, No. 1 – April 2019 Edition of New Jersey Family Lawyer, a publication of NJSBA’s Family Law Section
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Board of Editors, Section of Litigation Appellate Practice Journal, American Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
Specialties and Certifications
- Qualified Family Law Mediator, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education
- Family Law Arbitrator, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Other Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Family Law Litigation Subcommittee (Co-Chair)
- American Bar Association,Section of Litigation, Appellate Practice Journal (Board of Editors)
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Executive Committee (Member)
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Committee (Member)
- Somerset County Bar Association, Family Law Practice Committee (Member)
- Somerset County Bar Association (Trustee, 2018-2020)
- Somerset County Bar Association (Delegate to NJSBA General Council)
- Morris County Bar Association
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (Member)
- New Jersey Women Lawyer’s Association (Member)
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Member)
- New Jersey Association for Justice (Member)
- New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (District XIII Member)
- Superior Court, Early Settlement Panel in Somerset County (Panelist)
- American Bar Association, Outstanding Subcommittee Chair, 2015 - 2018
- ABA’s Diverse Speakers Directory
- American Bar Association, Executive Committee (Liaison )
- District XIII Ethics Committee (Member)
Photo
Contact
744 Mountain Boulevard
Watchung, NJ 07069
Phone: 908-645-1000
Fax: 908-645-1001
Email: Send a message
Hours: M-F, 9a-5:30p
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