
Education
Aaron graduated from The Citadel in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management: Accounting. He then attended law school at the Charleston School of Law and received a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida in 2012, solidifying his specialization in the intricate world of tax law.
Experience
After graduating from the University of Florida, Aaron worked at Deloitte Tax, LLP in Atlanta before moving to Greenville, South Carolina to work for the firm of Merline & Meacham, P.A. At Merline & Meacham, Aaron primarily practiced in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, general business law (including corporate and LLC formation).
Professional Memberships
I am a member of the American Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association, and the Hilton Head Island Bar Association, and serve as a Council Member of South Carolina Bar's Tax Law Section.
Publications and Professional Development
Aaron has contributed to multiple legal publications, including the South Carolina Lawyer, where his articles on trust decanting, retirement planning, and tax-related issues have helped educate other professionals. He has also presented on topics such as decanting, deferred compensation, and trust modification at various legal conferences, including the South Carolina Bar Convention, the Probate Bench and Bar, and the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association.
Personal Life
In his personal life, Aaron is the proud father of two children, Annie and Tripp. Outside of his professional commitments, he enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid outdoor enthusiast. Aaron enjoys fishing, boating, and exploring the May River. A passionate supporter of college football, he is particularly devoted to the Clemson Tigers.
Bar Admissions
South Carolina, 2011
U.S. Tax Court, 2012
Published Works
A Guide to Decanting, South Carolina Lawyer, November, 2014
Unlocking IRAs, South Carolina Lawyer, July, 2016
Classes / Seminars
Correcting Faulty Beneficiary Designations, South Carolina Bar Convention, 2017
Decanting and Modification of Trusts, Hilton Head Island Bar, 2014
Decanting and Modification of Trusts under the Revised Trust Code and ATRA, Probate Bench and Bar, 2014
Trusts 101, National Business Institute, 2016
Wills, Trusts, and Probate, Charleston School of Law, 2016
The Basics of International Income and Estate Tax, Probate and Pumpernickel, 2016
Honors And Awards
Aaron has been recognized with several prestigious awards during his academic and professional career, including multiple CALI® Excellence for the Future Awards in areas such as Estate and Gift Taxation, Partnership Taxation, Corporate Taxation, and Securities Regulation. He was also honored with the American Jurisprudence Book Award for Partnership Taxation during his LL.M.
Professional Associations And Memberships
South Carolina Bar Association, Member, 2011 to Present
Hilton Head Island Bar Association, Member, 2016 to Present
South Carolina Bar Tax Section, Member, 2012 to Present
South Carolina Bar Probate, Estate Planning, and Trusts Section, Member, 2012 to Present
South Carolina Bar Tax Section, Council Member, 2016 to 2024
President, July 2022-July 2023
Probate, Estate, and Trust Section, Council Member, 2024 to Present