Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Stephen ("Curt") has lived on the "Northshore" for the majority of his life. He graduated with honors from Pope John Paul II High School in 1990 where he served as President of the Student Council and was honored as the 1990 Student of the Year for the Parish of St. Tammany. In 1994, Stephen graduated summa cum laude with Upper Division Honors Distinction from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key National Honor Society. He was also chosen as Louisiana State University's Outstanding Student in Political Science. In 1997, Stephen graduated cum laude from Tulane University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and received an Honors Designation in Trial Advocacy and a Certificate in Maritime Law.

Stephen is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Mississippi. He is admitted to practice in all state courts of Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana and the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi. Stephen is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Stephen is a member of the Covington, New Orleans, Louisiana State, and Mississippi State Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, Louisiana Association of Justice, and the American Association of Justice. He serves as a Barrister within the American Inn of Court for the 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Tammany.

Aertker’s greatest honor was bestowed in 2008 when LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell recognized him with its highest Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating. In particular, Stephen C. Aertker, Jr. was given an AV rating from his peers, which means that he is deemed to have very high professional ethics and pre-eminent legal ability. Only lawyers with the highest ethical standards and exceptional qualifications receive a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating.

Stephen is married to the former Corrine R. Blakeman. They have two daughters; Caroline Elise and Claire Delaney. The Aertker family resides in Mandeville, Louisiana.