Rita M. Aquilio, ADR Attorney in Watchung, New Jersey

Practicing exclusively family law for over 25 years, Rita M. Aquilio has helped hundreds of families with divorce, alimony, child support, custody, post-judgment, and related family law matters throughout the State of New Jersey. She regularly appears in courts throughout New Jersey.

Recognized by the New Jersey Superior Court as a Qualified Family Law Mediator, Rita serves as 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 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.

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 serves on the General Legislation Committee as its chair and has testified in Trenton on legislation such as coercive control and VASPA, which impacts families in New Jersey. She is a member of the Appellate Practice Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is the President-Elect of the Somerset County Bar Association for 2024-25. Rita is the Chair of the Editorial Board of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, which is the legal publication of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is also the Chair of the District XIII Ethics Committee. Rita is a frequent lecturer on legal topics, including for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education, at its Annual Symposium, Hot Tips, and Family Law seminars, as well as the American Bar Association.

Rita served as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Litigation Committee for several years and served as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Alternative Dispute Resolution. She was previously recognized as Outstanding Subcommittee Chair for the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 Bar years. She is a member of the ABA’s Diverse Speakers Directory on matrimonial and family law matters. Rita has been appointed as Presidential Nominee, to serve as a Section Advisor to the ABA’s Drafting Committee on updates to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. She is also an appointee to the Lawyer Referral and Information Systems Committee, for a 3 year period. 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 has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers List in 2024 & 2025.