Christopher A. Austin

Acts as CEO and is a principal shareholder of the law firm. Leads the firm’s practice areas of Estate Planning, Probate, and Tax Practice. Experienced and knowledgeable on assisting clients with various estate planning matters ranging from simple to the more advanced and complex estates(estates above the unified credit, currently $12.92 million, domestic and international), asset protection, estate and trust administration (domestic and international), business succession planning, and tax planning, involving structuring of business organizations and corporate transactions. Oversees all financial and operational matters of the firm.

Owned and operated law practice providing services in the areas of estate planning, probate administration and litigation, business/corporate law, and real estate. Primarily advising clients on their estate planning matters including Taxation of Estates, WealthTransfer and Preservation, and Risk Management; also assisting clients with Estate and Trust Administration, Litigating Probate Disputes, and serving as Guardian ad Litem for minors and incapacitated clients; and providing legal counsel in various areas of Business and Corporate Law with Formations, Mergers and Acquisitions, Stock Purchases, Asset sales, Business Disputes, and negotiations. Presenting at numerous Estate Planning and Business Law seminars. Conducting residential real estate closing, Refinances, and Equity Lines of Credit.

Governor’s Office Policy Liaison.
Served as the Program Information Coordinator.
Collaborated with Constituent Services.
Generated Office Correspondence.
Represented the Governor’s Office at South Carolina Education Task ForceMeetings.
Author and Research Director for the South Carolina Department of NaturalResources Executive Budget Proposal of the Governor.

Accredited Estate Planner® Designee
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Master of Laws in Taxation

Charlotte School of Law, Charlotte, NC
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

• Magna Cum Laude
• Political Science
• Minor in BusinessAdministration
• Honors
• Omicron Delta Kappa
• Pi Sigma Alpha
• National Scholars
• Collegiate All-American Scholar
• President’s List
• National Dean’sList
• Dean’s List
• The Outstanding Student Achievement Triumph Honor Societies (TOAST)

• Fluent in Spanish
• Proficient in Interactive Legal Suite and WealthCounsel Estate Planning Software
• West Law, EDGAR (the electronicdatabase of the SEC)
• SoftPro – Real Estate Closing Software
• Cosmolex and NetDocuments-Case Management Systems
• Professional Research Certification on Lexis Nexis
• Negations,Mediation
• Legal Research

• Certified to practice before the United States District Court, District ofSouth Carolina and the United States Tax Court
• Selected as a 2023 Rising Star by Super Lawyers
• Member of the South Carolina Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia,Tennessee Bar Association, Aiken County Bar Association
• South Carolina Licensed Title Insurance Agent
• Candidate for the Aiken Technical College Board of Trustees
• Member of Cedar Creek Church
• Corporate Member of the Reserve Club at Woodside, Aiken SC
• Member of Wealth Counsel
• Member of American Land Title Association (ALTA)
• Frequent speaker on business, estate planning, and probate issues forvarious Financial Advisors, Bar sponsored events, and SCORE
• Involved in local government, City Attorney for the City of New Ellentonand formerly for the Town of Wagener
• Former Advisory Board Member of SRP Federal Credit Union
• Former Board Member of Aiken Steeple Chase Association
• Former Advisory Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Aiken, SC

Christopher Austin is a principal shareholder and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Austin & Pethick Law Firm, PC. He is a life-long resident of AikenCounty, having graduated from Silver Bluff High School in 2003. Hegraduated college from the University of South Carolina with a degree inPolitical Science and a minor in Business Administration. Chris obtained hisJuris Doctorate from Charlotte School of Law in 2010 and received his LL.M.(Master of Laws) in taxation from the University of Alabama in July 2021.

Chris leads Austin & Pethick’s Estate Planning, Probate, and Tax practice. He has been practicing for over ten years. Chris has experience and focuseson assisting clients with various estate planning matters ranging fromsimple to the more advanced and complex estate planning (estates abovethe unified credit, currently $12.92 million, both domestic andinternational), asset protection, estate and trust administration (domesticand international), business succession planning, and tax planning,involving the structuring of business organizations, commercial real estatetransactions, and corporate transactions.

Chris is licensed in SC, GA, and TN. He is certified by the NationalAssociation of Estate Planners & Councils as an Accredited Estate Planner(AEP®) Distinguished, fluent in Spanish and certified to practice before theUnited States Tax Court.

Chris takes pride in serving his community. He currently serves on theBoard of Trustees at Aiken Technical College. He has previously served as aboard member of the SRP Federal Credit Union Advisory Board, AikenSteeple Chase Association, and the Boys and Girls Club of Aiken AdvisoryBoard. He has also previously run for state office as a candidate for StateHouse Representative for District 81.

In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife,Hannah, their son, Jameson Knox Austin, and their three dogs- Justice,Linus, and Dolly, his family, and friends.