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.
Accreditations
Collaborative Practice
Resolving Disputes Respectfully
Presentations
“Hot Tips in Family Law,” NJSBA Family Law Section in association with the NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, November 12, 2018
“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
“Shades of Grey: Seniors and Divorce,” NJICLE in cooperation with NJSBA Family Law Section, Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, January 26, 2018
“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
“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
Second Saturday, The Women’s Institute for Financial Education, Florham Park, NJ, July 20, 2017
“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
“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
Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association
• Co-Chair, Section of Litigation, Family Law Litigation Subcommittee
• Editor, Section of Litigation, Family Law Litigation Subcommittee E-Newsletter
• Board of Editors, Section of Litigation, Appellate Practice Journal
New Jersey State Bar Association
• Family Law Executive Committee
• Appellate Practice Committee
• Member, Editorial Board, New Jersey Lawyer Magazine
Somerset County Bar Association
• Family Law Practice Committee
• Trustee, 2018-2020
Morris County Bar Association
New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors Association
New Jersey Collaborative Law Group
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
New Jersey Women Lawyer’s Association
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
New Jersey Association for Justice
New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators
