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Jennifer L. Routte, Esq.
Jen Routte became an attorney to help people - but years of courtroom battles taught her that the families she represented shouldn't have been there in the first place. After litigating estate disputes where siblings stopped speaking, businesses failed, and grief turned into legal warfare, she made a decision: dedicate her career to preventing those fights, not just winning them.
She founded Routte Law in 2014 with a mission to educate, empower, and shift families into the possibility of something more. Jen helps families navigate estate planning, elder law, probate, real estate, and business transactions - not by burying them in legal jargon, but by translating complex decisions into language they can understand and act on.
What drives her work isn't the documents themselves - it's the calm those documents create when families need them most. She's spent enough time in hospitals and nursing homes to know that good planning isn't about paperwork. It's about making sure your family can focus on what matters when life gets hard, instead of fighting over what you meant or navigating legal chaos.
Jen is a frequent speaker and educator, presenting to community groups, first responders, and professional organizations about estate planning, elder law, real estate, and business law. She created Little Legal Lessons, a series of educational videos designed to make legal knowledge accessible to everyone - not just people who can afford expensive attorneys.
Jen and her husband Nick live in Worthington with their two sons. She serves on various boards and regularly volunteers for community organizations, showing up in the courtroom, the classroom, and the bleachers.
Practice Areas: Estate Planning | Elder Law | Probate Administration | Trust Administration | Real Estate Transactions | Small Business Formation & Transactions
Education: Capital University Law School, J.D. | The Ohio State University, B.A.
Bar Admissions: Ohio | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Ohio
Professional Involvement: Columbus Bar Association | Ohio State Bar Association | Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Section
Would you like Jen to speak with your group or community? Click Here.
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Chris Alley brings an unusual perspective to his legal practice. Before becoming an attorney, he served in the United States Army, worked as a law enforcement officer with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, and owned multiple small businesses. That background shapes how he practices law - he's been the client navigating succession planning, contracts, and business growth. He understands what clients need because he’s been on the other side of the table.
Chris focuses his practice on estate planning, probate, small business law, and real estate transactions. He regularly negotiates and drafts buy/sell agreements, operating agreements, and business succession plans. He works with families to develop comprehensive estate plans and guides clients through real estate transactions. What clients appreciate is his practical approach: he doesn't just draft documents, he thinks through what could go wrong and builds protections accordingly.
Outside his law practice, Chris is an active father and community volunteer. He serves on his son's Boy Scout Troop committee, helping plan activities and leading camping trips. He believes in teaching the next generation the values that shaped him: service, responsibility, and showing up when people need you.
Practice Areas: Estate Planning | Small Business Formation & Transactions | Real Estate Transactions | Buy/Sell Agreements | Business Succession Planning
Education: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D. | Ohio University, B.A.
Bar Admissions: Ohio U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Professional Involvement: Ohio State Bar Association | Columbus Bar Association | National Sheriff's Association
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Margaret (Maggie) Wagner joined Routte Law in 2026 with a clear mission: making estate planning accessible, understandable, and effective for the families who need it most.
Before becoming an attorney, Maggie studied education and earned her Ohio licensure in Middle Childhood Education. That background shapes her legal practice. She approaches estate planning as a collaborative, educational process—avoiding unnecessary legal jargon and ensuring clients understand their options and feel confident in their decisions. Maggie believes everyone, regardless of income or background, deserves clear guidance and meaningful access to legal counsel.
Maggie’s decision to pursue law was motivated by a desire to serve others. Her experience includes advanced estate planning strategies and complex trusts, while her focus stays on making a real, practical difference. She is equally committed to helping older adults protect modest assets and guiding business owners through succession planning.
Her commitment to education extends beyond the office. Maggie volunteers her time educating first responders and community groups about estate planning, focusing on awareness and preparedness rather than client development. She regularly presents at community organizations, helping individuals understand how proactive planning can protect their families.
What sets Maggie apart is her ability to connect with clients. She doesn’t simply draft documents—she brings calm to difficult situations, listens carefully to what families need, and builds estate plans that work in real life. Clients value her thoughtful approach, thorough guidance, and genuine care throughout the planning process.
At Routte Law, Maggie found a firm that shares her commitment to educating and empowering clients while expanding access to quality legal services. The firm’s mission—to educate, empower, and shift clients into the possibility of something more—aligns closely with her approach to estate planning.
Outside of her practice, Maggie is passionate about volunteering with her therapy dog, Justice, whom she trained and registered during law school. Together, they visit nursing homes and hospitals, providing comfort and support to those in need.
Education: Capital University Law School, J.D., 2021 | The University of Dayton B.S., cum laude, 2017
Bar Admissions: Ohio, 2021
Professional Recognition: Student Bar Association President, Capital University Law School | Dean's List | National Association of Women Lawyers Award
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Chris focuses his practice on estate planning, probate, real estate, and small business
law. He is well versed on the intricacies of estate planning including avoiding probate,
managing assets during life and after death, and protecting assets. His probate
experience has taught him all the ways to avoid probate. He puts those lessons into
every estate plan he prepares.
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Behind every estate plan, probate matter, and real estate transaction is a team that makes it all happen. Amy keeps our back office running - handling billing, collections, and getting your final documents out the door. Derek drafts estate plans and navigates real estate approvals with precision. Jennifer manages probate administration and keeps cases moving forward. Kennie runs the front desk, manages office flow, and ensures everything (and everyone) stays on track. RJ guides families through probate with care and expertise.
They're the hands that turn legal work into real results.
When you work with Routte Law, you work with us all.
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Loki is our five-pound fluffy Pomeranian who runs the support team with an iron paw (wrapped in the softest fur). As Chief Treat Officer, he keeps everyone in line, provides comfort to clients who need it, and ensures the puppy tax is paid promptly. Don't let his teddy bear appearance fool you - he's The Boss, and he knows it.
They're the hands that turn legal work into real results.
When you work with Routte Law, you work with us all.