Atty. William J. Browning CELA

Atty. William J. Browning CELA

Bill Browning has been instrumental in the development of law in the areas of elder law and special needs planning, both in the state of Ohio and nationally. Throughout his career, Bill has been committed to assisting families facing the potential for a long term nursing home stay since the 1980s.

Columbus Columbus 43 yrs experience 43 year
Call (380) 777-9340 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About William J. Browning CELA at a glance

William J. Browning CELA is a Partner based in Columbus, Ohio, practicing at Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Miller, LLC. They have 43+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1983. Their practice focuses on trusts, probate, estate planning, tax, and estate litigation. Admitted to practice in Ohio U.S District Court, Southern District of Ohio U.S. District Court, Northern District Ohio U.S. (1983). Educated at Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio (J.D., 1983) and Capital University, Columbus, Ohio (B.A. Political, 1979). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Columbus, OH and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Bill Browning has been instrumental in the development of law in the areas of elder law and special needs planning, both in the state of Ohio and nationally
  • Throughout his career, Bill has been committed to assisting families facing the potential for a long term nursing home stay since the 1980s
  • He has also been instrumental in changing the law in Ohio, allowing parents and grandparents to set aside funds for the supplemental needs of mentally ill, developmentally disabled and physically disabled heirs while still qualifying for Medicaid and other governmental benefits
  • Over three decades of experience advising families facing a health care crisis, either years in advance of a nursing home placement, or subsequent to a catastrophic event
  • His understanding of the economic stress factors, as well as the emotional components, allows him to guide families through an often foreign and unduly complex maze to obtain the health care required without becoming destitute
  • As a Certified Elder Law Attorney, Bill has helped designed the national program creating the certification process, authoring exam questions and grading certification exams over the past twenty years
  • Bill has been honored by invitations to lecture to attorneys and financial planners at many Ohio State Bar Association and various national events
  • He has also remained active in the more traditional estate and tax planning practice as most families he represents also face tax and other traditional planning issues
  • Articles & Presentations Articles • What the Genworth Long-Term Care Insurance Settlement Means to You, August 9, 2023 • Post-Marital Agreements Permissible in Ohio, May 9, 2023 • Understanding Viatical Settlements, aka Selling Your Life Insurance Policy, May 9, 2023 • Special Needs Trust Options in Ohio, October 17, 2022 • Revocable Trusts a Safer Planning Option in Volatile Markets, August 5, 2022 • Medicaid News: New Protections for IRAs, July 29, 2022 • Leaving a Legacy to a Family Member with Addiction Issues, November 22, 2019 • “Continued Attacks on Special Needs Trusts”, July 8, 2019 • “As America’s population ages, demand for elder law attorneys grows,” ABA Journal, May 2, 2019 • Protecting Retirement Accounts When Long-Term Nursing Home Care is Required, March 1, 2019 • Beware of Immediate Annuities, February 12, 2019 • Planning for Disabled Children, January 21, 2019 • Protecting IRA’s When A Spouse Requires Nursing Home Care • “Protecting Retirement Accounts When Long-Term Nursing Home Care Is Required,” Bloomberg Tax’s Compensation Planning Journal, March 1, 2019 Presentations • “Medicaid Planning with Respect to Life Insurance, Real Estate, Life Estates, and Long-Term Care Insurance,” Ohio State Bar Association Medicaid Seminar, June 27, 2018 • Stetson Law School, Special Needs Conference, 2010 and 2012 • Frequent speaker at several national conventions, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) • Pack v
  • Osborne, The Supreme Court of Ohio, 2007 Honors • Columbus CEO Top Lawyers, 2023-2025 • The Best Lawyers in America, 2022-2026 • Ohio Super Lawyers, 2004-2022, 2024-2026 • Certified Elder Law Attorney, National Elder Law Foundation and Ohio Supreme Court, 1996

Practice Areas Explained

William J. Browning CELA's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases William J. Browning CELA handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Trusts

William J. Browning CELA is one of 104,171 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in Ohio →

Probate

William J. Browning CELA is one of 128,014 probate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse probate attorneys in Ohio →

Estate Planning & Probate

An estate planning attorney prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to protect your family and pass on your assets.

William J. Browning CELA is one of 226,536 estate planning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate planning attorneys in Ohio →

Tax Law

Tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt, international tax, estate planning, and tax court litigation.

William J. Browning CELA is one of 85,302 tax attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax attorneys in Ohio →

Estate & Trust Litigation

William J. Browning CELA is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in Ohio →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Ohio

Practicing law in Ohio. Legal matters in Ohio are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Columbus are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Ohio state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Ohio brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Ohio courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Ohio attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Columbus or all attorneys in Ohio.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about William J. Browning CELA

Where is William J. Browning CELA's law office located?
William J. Browning CELA's law practice is located in Columbus, Ohio. The firm is Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Miller, LLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does William J. Browning CELA handle?
William J. Browning CELA focuses on trusts, probate, estate planning, tax, estate litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Ohio.
How long has William J. Browning CELA practiced law?
William J. Browning CELA has 43+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1983.
Where did William J. Browning CELA go to law school?
William J. Browning CELA earned their education at (J.D., 1983); (B.A. Political, 1979).
How can I contact William J. Browning CELA for a consultation?
You can contact William J. Browning CELA directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has William J. Browning CELA received?
William J. Browning CELA's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio
- 1983
B.A. Political
Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
- 1979

Awards

AV Preeminent

Bar Admissions

Ohio U.S District Court, Southern District of Ohio U.S. District Court, Northern District Ohio U.S.
Admitted: 1983

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