Jessica Ragno Sprague is a Partner with Jardim Meisner & Susser, PC in the Family and Matrimonial practice group.
Jessica is a Certified Matrimonial Attorney, as authorized by the New Jersey Supreme Court, and is an expert in family law related matters. She has dedicated the majority of her career to serving clients in all aspects of divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, the division of assets, domestic violence, prenuptial agreements, military divorces, complex litigation such as UCCJEA, grandparent’s rights and high net worth matters, and all related issues. She has extensive litigation experience, having tried many cases in Northern and Central New Jersey, including matrimonial trials, custody trials, relocation trials and domestic violence trials. In addition, Jessica has a substantial appellate practice. She was the prevailing attorney in the published Appellate Division decision of L.C. v. M.A.J., 451 N.J. 408 (App. Div. 2017) as well as prevailing in many unpublished decisions. Jessica also handles guardianship matters, having been appointed in the Probate Part to represent alleged incapacitated individuals and as temporary guardian. She uniquely understands that interplay for divorced families with Special Needs children, and has litigated multiple cases to assist in the transition wherein Special Needs children have reached the age of majority and in divorced family circumstances. Jessica has also been appointed by the Court in other Family matters to serve in the capacity of Guardian ad Litem and Receiver.
Jessica graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, College at Florham, with a B.A. in Psychology in 2003, and her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University Law School in 2006. While in law school, she was a research assistant for New Jersey State Senator Robert Martin, and she spent a semester representing indigent clients in their Family Law Clinic. Upon graduating from law school, she had the honor to clerk for the late Honorable John E. Selser in Passaic County in the Family Division.
Jessica was the 100th President of the Passaic County Bar Association from 2019 through 2020. She is the co-chair of the Family Law Section and the co-chair of the Early Settlement Panel Committee, as well as panelist, in Passaic County. Along with the other members of the committee and the Honorable Rudolph Filko, P.J.F.P., she speared headed a low bono program to help assist with the lengthy backlog of matrimonial motions and said program continues to assist litigants today. Along with her co-chair, she is currently working to establish a program for unmarried couples in the Passaic Family Court to alleviate the long delays that litigants are experiencing due to the pandemic. In 2021, she received the Professional Lawyer of the Year award for Passaic County from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism.
At the State level, Jessica is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, including the Family Law Section. She is currently a member of the Family Law Executive Committee. She previously served a number of years on the General Council. At both the State and local level, Jessica has been a speaker and moderator at a number of continuing legal education classes.
Jessica was previously appointed by the Supreme Court to serve a term on the District XI Fee Arbitration Committee and a term on the District XI Ethics Committee. She is currently serving a term on the Committee on Character.
She is also General Counsel for the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization. She had previously served a three-year term as an elected member of the County Committee for that organization as well.
In addition to her dedication to the legal profession, Jessica actively volunteers within her community. She was president of her son’s elementary school’s PTA after having served as the By-Laws and Procedures Chair. She was the co-chair of their annual Pocketbook Bingo and Tricky Tray from 2016 through 2019. She was also the chair of the By-Laws Committee for the West Milford Junior Football Association, and has been a Team Mom in the program.
Jessica resides in Passaic County with her husband and her two sons.
Court Admissions
• New Jersey
• U.S. District Court, New Jersey
Education
• Fairleigh Dickinson University, College at Florham, B.A.
• Seton Hall University Law School, J.D.
Honors/Recognitions
• Certified as a Matrimonial Law Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court
• Appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court for the District XI Fee Arbitration Committee, District XI Ethics Committee, and Committee on Character
• Professional Lawyer of the Year, Passaic County, 2021, New Jersey Commission on Professionalism
• Named as a Rising Star by New Jersey Super Lawyers in Matrimonial Law from 2011 through 2021
• 10 Best Client Satisfaction for Family Law and Top 10 Under 40 in New Jersey from the American Institute of Legal Counsel
• AVVO Clients’ Choice Award
Practice areas
Languages spoken
English
Jardim Meisner & Susser PC
30B Vreeland Road, #100
Florham Park, NJ, 07932
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NJ | Active | 2006 | 03/28/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Professional Lawyer of the Year, Passaic County | New Jersey Commission on Professionalism | 2021 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2020 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2015 |
Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2014 |
Board Certified, Matrimonial Law | New Jersey Bar Association | 2014 |
Rising Star | SuperLawyers | 2013 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2012 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2011 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | Jardim Meisner & Susser PC | 2022 - Present |
Partner | Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, LLC | 2010 - 2022 |
Associate Attorney | Petrie Cotroneo & Reenstra, LLC | 2007 - 2010 |
Law Clerk | Honorable John E. Selser, J.S.C. | 2006 - 2007 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
New Jersey Committee on Character | Member | 2021 - Present |
New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Secti | FLEC Member | 2020 - Present |
Passaic County Regular Republican Organization | General Counsel | 2020 - Present |
Passaic County Bar Association | President | 2019 - 2020 |
District XI Ethics Committee | Member | 2015 - 2019 |
District IX Fee Arbitration Commitee | Panelist | 2011 - 2015 |
Passaic County Bar Association | Trustee | 2010 - 2018 |
Passaic County Regular Republican Committee | Elected Official | 2009 - 2012 |
Barry Croland Family Law American Inn of Court | Member | 2006 - 2009 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Seton Hall University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 2006 |
Fairleigh Dickinson University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 2003 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
2013 Top Ten Family Law Cases | Jacoby v. Jacoby | 2013 |
Continuing Legal Education | The Case Information Statement | 2012 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Varrone vs. Varrone | Successful |
LC v. MAJ, 451 N.J. Super. 408 (App. Div. 2017) | Successful |
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