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