J. Aaron Nelson Jr. - Bluffton, SC
Attorney at Nelson Law Firm
Estate Planning Lawyers in Bluffton, SC
5796 Guilford Place Bluffton, SC 29910
- Free Consultation
Bluffton Estate Planning Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Estate Planning
- Probate
- Tax Law
- Business Law
Attorney Information
Overview
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.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- CALI® Excellence of the Future Award: Estate and Gift Taxation, 2011 - Present
- CALI® Excellence of the Future Award: Partnership Taxation, 2010 - Present
- CALI® Excellence of the Future Award: Corporate Taxation, 2010 - Present
- CALI® Excellence of the Future Award: Securities Regulation, 2011 - Present
- CALI® Excellence of the Future Award: Criminal Law, 2009 - Present
- American Jurisprudence Book Award: Partnership Taxation, 2012 - Present
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Charleston School of Law,
Charleston,
South Carolina, 2011
Juris Doctor
Honors: magna cum laude
Law Review: Charleston Law Review, Associate Articles Editor, 2009 - 2011 -
University of Florida College of Law,
Gainesville,
Florida, 2012
LL.M., Master of Laws
Major: Taxation
-
Charleston School of Law,
Charleston,
South Carolina, 2011
-
Non Legal Education
-
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina,
Charleston,
South Carolina, 2008
B.S., Bachelor of Science
Honors: cum laude
Major: Business Management: Accounting
-
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina,
Charleston,
South Carolina, 2008
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Past Positions
- Merline & Meacham, P.A., Associate, 2012 - 2016
- Merline & Meachem, P.A., Of Counsel, 2016 - 2017
- Deloitte Tax, LLP, Tax Consultant I, 2012
Languages
-
English
Classes and 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
Published Works
Articles
-
A Guide to Decanting, South Carolina Lawyer, November, 2014
-
Unlocking IRAs, South Carolina Lawyer, July, 2016
Bar Admissions
- South Carolina, 2011
- U.S. Tax Court, 2012
Specialties and Certifications
- Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts
Other Affiliations
- American Bar Association, 2011 - Present (Member)
- South Carolina Bar Association, 2011 - Present (Member)
- Hilton Head Island Bar Association, 2016 - Present (Member)
- South Carolina Bar Tax Section, 2012 - Present (Member)
- South Carolina Bar Probate, Estate Planning, and Trusts Section, 2012 - Present (Member)
- South Carolina Bar Tax Section, 2016 - 2024 (Council Member)
- South Carolina Bar Tax Section (President, July 2022 - July 2023)
- Probate, Estate, and Trust Section, Council Member, 2024 - Present
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